The hall crowded with people who had their life sucked out was filled with sounds of panting. The nobles, who faced utter fear tried to control their bodies which were trembling uncontrollably.

Some were already unconscious with foam in their mouths, and some were vomiting on the spot which made the whole scene even more disgusting and gross to watch.

And between all the commotions, only two people stood, shell-shocked.

“Gan,…. what just happened?”

The older brother, still dazed by what just transpired in the hall turned to and asked Gan who was standing right beside him.

“I-I... don’t know, young master.”

But even he can’t give an answer to his question as he also seemed confused. The whole situation makes little sense to either both of them.

“…I haven’t seen master like that,… ever. To see him that... vulnerable...”

Looking toward the way where the king left, Gan thought of going after him, but something inside him thwarted him from doing so.

“It’s all my fault, Gan.” The older brother broke into tears while saying so.

“Young master!”

Gan, who saw the older brother breaking down, held him and hugged him tightly.

“Please, do not blame yourself. We know who is behind all of this.” Gan turned towards where all the nobles were standing with a look of disgust on his face.

“But they already cut our hands off the moment our kingdom came into the Goddess’s rule. It was the king who was holding us all till now.”

“B-But... But..!!”

“I know. In doing so, he confined himself. The responsibility of being a king and the protector of the warrior’s race dignity was already piercing his heart, and now...”

Gan shut his eyes as he could remember the moment he saw his master cutting his own son’s hands. At that moment, because of all the commotion, nobody probably would have noticed, but it was Gan who saw the hint of devastation on his master’s face, and at that moment that it made his heart ache.

Because of him, a father was forced to cut down his own son’s hands that he is feeling guilty.

“The only thing holding him was you two, his own sons. But now-”

“Ashv.”

The older brother spoke. It was the obvious name who is the root cause of the king’s sadness.

“My brother, no, these nobles were responsible for everything bad happening in our family. If only he wasn’t influenced by these nobles, today, we wouldn’t be seeing this day.”

One look at the nobles was enough to have him clench his fists tightly. The rage locked inside him tried to come up again as aura slowly started to manifest around him, wanting to cut down these lowly, so-called nobles but Gan timely stopped him.

“No, young master. You are the one and only hope for my master. Do not try to take decisions so hastily on just mere emotions that would make everything even worse.”

“He is right, first prince.”

While Gan was consoling the young master, the Head Scholar walked towards them and joined them too as he looked at the older brother and then the side where all the nobles were trying to control themselves.

“Head Scholar!”

“Killing them won’t do you, the king, or this land any good. Seeing my king in that condition, I must say that it is time.”

The head scholar said while having a serious expression on his face. Standing face to face with the young master, the head scholar looked into his eyes which made the young master realize what he is talking about.

“No... I am not ready, Head Scholar. I can’t...”

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Freeing from Gan’s embrace, the older brother started to back away as he knew what the head scholar is trying to say. He seems to think that it is too early for him to take the burden of his father’s responsibility.

“It’s because of me that Ashv had his hands cut off. And now even Father... I can’t, Head Scholar. I can’t!!”

Filled with doubts and confusion along with the countless thoughts pressuring him, the older brother’s legs gave up but before he could fall down, Gan held him up. But seeing him in this condition, the Head Scholar didn’t budge at all.

“It’s not your choice, never was it of the king. Follow the prescribed path of yours, warrior prince. Running away from your responsibility will now not only harm you but the entire land of Ajay and its inhabitants. The world is in its last stage, the stage of evil. And for the one who will end this stage to have a single ally left in this world, your and this kingdom’s survival as the last descendant of the warriors is necessary.”

The Head Scholar, after saying his words, walked towards the gate as he spoke to Gan.

“Gan, notify everyone in the castle about the coronation. The coronation will take place after 2 days, so make sure to have everything prepared.”

“Y-Yes, Head Scholar.”

With that, the head scholar exited the hall, leaving behind Gan and the older brother. Gan, now left alone with the older brother, looked at the way where the Head Scholar went and then at the shocked young master of his.

‘Is this the correct path? To have the master step down from the throne? To have young master enthroned?’

Various thoughts were coming up in his mind, but he had too much to do on his hands now, so he forced on the present.

“Get up, young master. Let me guide you through your room.”

“Y-Yeah.”

The older brother didn’t speak much as he was still battling against the questions throwing themselves at him in his mind. While exiting the hall, Gan thought to himself.

‘Maybe it’s for the best for the young master to be enthroned. My master is old now, and with Master Ashv’s crime, I think the head scholar is right.’

He then exited the hall as he hoped for a better future for them and for the land of Ajay.

***

“W-Why?”

The auspicious day of the coronation of the crown prince of the great land of Ajay has now turned into a day of massacre. The hall which was decorated with marigolds, roses, and loads of flowers is now covered by dead bodies.

“W-Why did this ha-happen?”

Watching over the hall from a corner, Gan said while trying to cover a huge wound on his abdomen. Though he tried, blood still spewed out of the wound. After that, he looked towards the throne where his master, the king of Ajay’s dead body was sitting. A huge sword was penetrating his chest which passed through the throne too.

“M-My master!! I-I am sorry!”

The day when everyone was happy. The hall which was filled with happiness now was drowned in bright red blood.

Seeing all this, Gan couldn’t control himself and cried. Even now, his body had no strength left within it to even walk toward his master’s dead body.

*SLAM!*

When he was lamenting the demise of his master, suddenly, someone slammed open the door of the hall and walked in.

“Y-You!!”

With furious and hatred-filled eyes, Gan looked towards the man who opened the door and walked towards him. Seeing Gan on the ground looking at him, the man smirked and slowly closed the distance between him and Gan. Many other people were behind him too.

“Tsk Tsk Tsk! Gan, Gan, Gan. You still haven’t died yet.”

The man was none other than Ashv, who, 2 days ago got his hands and nose slashed off and was banished by his own father. His hands, which were missing were back and his nose too was back to normal.

But Gan was not surprised because seeing the people behind him, he realized who was the one who helped Ashv.

“Y-You have no shame, Ashv!! You betrayed the code of the warrior, tried to kill your own brother and now-”

*Turn!*

“You killed your own father too!!” Gan said while turning his head towards the throne where his dead king is sitting.

“Shut it, Gan. You are ruining the mood, you know.” Said Ashv as he had a big smirk on his face. Having gone totally insane, Ashv, while hiding something behind his back crouched in front of Gan and looked into his eyes.

“You know, all of this wouldn’t have ever happened if you would have just let me kill you both.” Ashv then took out the thing that he was hiding behind him.

*Gasp!*

Seeing the thing that Ashv took out, Gan lost what little light of hope he had inside of him.

The thing that Ashv took out was none other than a head, the head of the older brother.

“Though he was a little stubborn, with these men behind me, it was easy to take him out.” Ashv glanced back at the men behind him. Clad in white armor, the men silently stood behind him without speaking a single thing. God knows what the expression behind the helmet they wore was but there was one who is all happy as a smile never left his face.

“See!! That’s the power of the knights. Goddess has recognized me and has sent the knights in my aid whereas you all, my family, tarnished my pride and banished me like a criminal scum, only for what? Killing mere Sashs?”

Ashv unsheathed the bloodied sword from his waist as he stood up and looked at Gan.

“She has recognized that you have wronged me and now, it is time for me to personally give you your punishment as the new member of the knights. Goodbye, Gan.”

Gan closed his eyes as he knew what is coming next. Having no desire left within him, he left everything to fate as Ashv, with a smile on his face, with no remorse for his actions swung his sword.

*SLASH!*

And with that, Ashv beheaded the injured Gan and so, the long dream of Gan finally ended.

***