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Re: Kingdom
Prologue, Trial by Fire Part 3 - End

Prologue, Trial by Fire Part 3 - End

A meeting has been held at City Hall, Gallan lead the meeting and there also Arthur and Hans who just recently arrived after they engage in battle at Aed District.

All eyes has give its attention to Gallan. The atmosphere also on its peak of tense. Because not just Hans Hurtberg who act as head of city guard but also numerous official from palace has came. They all curious with Gallan orders to retreat.

"Give us explanation Gallan!" Said one of the kingdom official.

"Our priority is the civilians. We must evacuate all civilians and make them safe." Said Gallan, Giving an explanation.

"So you think what have I been doing wrong all this time?" Said Hans who fell offended by Gallan explanation.

"You sacrifice civilians just to do something stupid. I always ask my self why the king appointed you as head of the city guards? you are just a former commander an muscle brain." Said Gallan.

"So it seems that you understand this problem better than me. Then I think you don't need me here anymore." Said Hans, leaving the room.

"I agree with the head of the city guard. You don't need consideration from anyone! You always decide everything yourself." Said one of kingdom official.

"If you continue to behave like this. Nobody will stand next to you." Said Master Reinard, a person who as kingdom chancellor.

Chancellor is a title given by the king. Its position is under the king's right hand. And also as the king's right hand helper. Because it Master Reinard is quite close to Gallan in terms of work. 

"So why are we here? We better go and let him solve this problem himself!" Said another man in the room.

Not long after, many of those in the meeting room are leaving. And only Gallan and Arthur remain in the room.

"Do you intentionally do this?" Said Arthur, curiously.

"Sometimes, you have to bang the other person's head on the floor so he realizes how dirty the floor is." Said Gallan.

"Your words are always difficult to understand" Said Arthur.

"There is something more urgent than this problem, Arthur." Said Gallan with his sharp eyes loking at Arthur.

"What is more important than the current problem?" Said Arthur.

"I will say it when the time comes. Because this is just the beginning of all the problems that you will face later." Said Gallan, leaving the room.

Arthur stood facing the window and tried to think of the situation. Gallan had come and Arthur believed that with the Gallan the problem would be over quickly. But hearing the words of Gallan made him think again, if indeed this was the beginning, then how big would the problem be?

 At the end of the tunnel, Aed District.

"We're almost out of the tunnel!" Said Lea 

"Is it true?" Ask Arnain.

"You can see for yourself!" Said Lea, revealing the outside to Arnain.

"Finally we come out." Said Arnain.

Lea mevel and Arnain managed to find a way out after going down a wide tunnel. The Jashin group had moved out in some way. Lea Mevel and Arnain did not want to bother looking for it.

"What's going on here?" Lea standing stood when he looking around.

"Are we really in the capital, Alys?" Arnain said. 

Arnain stood between the ruins of the house and the bodies of many people lying on the ground. Smoke fills the view around Arnain and makes it difficult to breathe and to see.

"This is a diversion. I quite understand their mindset." Said Lea to Arnain.

"They burned the city and killed so many people so lightly? Do they have no feelings?" Said Arnain, Upset.

"You're still naive Arnain. You will never be able to see the reality of this world if it continues like that." Said Lea Mevel.

"So the lives of these people have no meaning?" said Arnain.

"In this world, everything can be used for personal gain. The lives of others are included in it." Said Lea Mevel.

"If only I had never followed this plan!" Said Arnain and regret his decision.

"They have been designing this for a long time. You can see that the tunnel is not something that can be made one night!"

"So you think-" Before Aranin finish his words, Lea made a cut.

"They deliberately used yourself as a scapegoat. By making you the culprit of all the chaos in this city." Said Lea Mevel.

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Arnain just standing in silence when realizing his plan has became a disaster to capital city, Alys.

"So you can't linger here. If you are caught then the real culprit will be harder to catch!" Continue her words.

"But I'm also part of this mess. I think—" 

"Don't be naive! Just follow my words! I can't be caught here either." Again, Arnain words has been cut by Lea.

Lea Mevel forced Arnain to leave. They used a blue tunic hood that he got from several corpses on the street. The clothes can still be used beside it has a little dirty. 

A few moments later, at the city hall.

"The latest report is coming!"

A soldier with a full armor comes with a news for Gallan.

"Come in!" Gallan said.

After giving a report to Gallan the soldier immediately left the town hall by riding a horse.

"Arthur, call all the officials and also the head of city guard here. We will start a counterattack operation!" Said Gallan

"Fine, I'll call all the officials and also the head of city guard." Said Arthur.

After that, the second meeting begins to discuss the counter-attack that will be carried out. According to reports the Gallan troops were patrolling the area around the capital. There is a semi-permanent fortress that is suspected of being the main base of the enemy. The place was guarded by approximately 50 strange people with weapons and languages that had never been heard.

"What are you planning this time? Then do you need our opinion?" Said one of the official. Ask to Gallan.

"I just want to tell you, if Hans Hurtberg will lead the attack. While I will stay here, monitoring the enemy movement from this place." Gallan in response.

"I won't disappoint you, Gallan!" Said Hans Hurtberg eagerly.

"I expect a lot from you."Said Gallan.

"Then what will we do after attacking the fort?" Ask Arthur.

"We will find out the path used by the enemy. Because I am very sure it is underground." Said Gallan and make everyone on the rooms fell silent.

"So you have predicts all of this?" Ask Arthur

"I has simulate all the actions I will take. And now no one can escape from my eyes." 

After that, the meeting was over and everyone left the meeting room. Arthur is not allowed to take part in counterattack operations. That made him feel annoyed.

"Arthur, do you have a minute?" Hans Asking.

"What's wrong, captain?" Said Arthur.

"I just got a report about someone." Said Hans.

"Someone?" Ask Arthur.

"It's possible he was the person you had negotiated before. For that, I want you to check it first." Said Hans.

"So you caught him?" Said Arthur

"This is a bit strange actually. One of the guards realized it when he took a wounded little girl to one of the guard posts. To confirm his identity, only you that I can ask for help." Said Hans

"Did Gallan know about it?" Said Arthur

"I didn't submit this report. After all, he was unpredictable and I didn't like him." Said Hans.

"Okay I'll go to confirm it." Said Arthur willingly to help.

"Be careful, you don't let your guard down at all." Said Hans and then leave the room.

After that, Arthur went to a place called 'Ansein Lod' a special prison in the capital. It was a high-level prison whose location was kept secret and only a few people knew it. To get there you have to go down a lot of stairs and the location below the ground makes Arthur difficult to breathing.

"We meet again." Greet Arthur.

"Prince?" Said Arnain.

"Looks like you're fine." Said Arthur seeing Arnain condition.

"I was wrong. I should have believed your words before." Said Arnain.

"Regret is for self-learning. You don't need to feel guilty. You're actually innocent, I know you are only being used." Said Arthur.

"But, because of my stupidity. Many innocent people die." Said Arnain regreting.

"My ward always says, humans are stupid and for that they have to learn. Ignorance has no limits as well as experiences you can take." Said Arthur, revering to Gallan his ward.

"I confessed in front of you, that I was wrong. I asked for help from you prince. How do I fix this mistake?" said Arnain

"You can't fix it. You can only reduce the impact." Said Arthur

"I'll help you! I know a few things about the person behind this problem." Said Arnain, begging to Arthur.

"Okay, tell me everything you know." Said Arthur.

After that, Arnain told him everything he knew about Savis which was only used by someone who was still unknown. He also told me about Luis who was likely to do something later because Arnain got a strange letter from Luis when they fought.

Meanwhile the operation that Gallan planned to run smoothly. They succeeded in taking the fortress along with a collection of items which turned out to be a lost treasure since the previous civil war.

In the special room of the king's right hand.

That night, when all the problems were almost overcome. Arthur came with the intention of asking for opinions and direction. Because the king will come to see first hand the condition of the capital. Meanwhile, the news that the capital was being targeted was also spreading rapidly throughout the kingdom. Making new problems sooner or later must be addressed properly.

"How are you Arthur?" Said Gallan.

"I am fine." Arthur Reply.

"What are you coming here for? I'm busy taking care of documents and reports." Ask Gallan

"I just want to get an opinion about Arnain." Said Arthur.

"He will be hanged or beheaded when the king comes here." Said Gallan.

"Why? You know he's innocent right?" Arthur said.

"Even though I know that. It won't change much." Said Gallan

"Are we going to punish innocent people?" Said Arthur

"First, he is not completely innocent. The role he performs is quite significant. I even just realized it when I received a report from you." Said Gallan

"Then you can give it another option right?" Said Arthur

"Second, he is Mythes. The nobles who have the power will consider us too kind to let him live." Said Gallan

"But-" 

"Did he beg to save his life?" Said Gallan

"No, but still—"

"That's the third reason. He already knows the end of it. I've seen someone like that, someone who seeks repentance by receiving a punishment that isn't even for that person." Said Gallan, giving explanation.

"Why?" Ask Arthur

"You can say that was the trial by fire. He was receiving his sentence in exchange for his sin" Said Gallan

"But, I feel that execution is a mistake. He doesn't deserve that!" Said Arthur, upset.

"You're not a king. So you can't decide that. Those are things a king must bear." Said Gallan

"Does a king do something like this?" Said Arthur

"You know nothing about being a king." Said Gallan

"Then what can I do?" Said Arthur

"There is nothing you can do. Unless you will continue to be a king, I will consider it." Said Gallan

"I never want to be a king. Even if that happens, it can lead to war." Said Arthur

"I can handle that as long as you really want to take that position. It is precisely me and Ed really hope you want to fight and get the position of a successor to the king." Said Gallan

"I don't want the kingdom to fight only for me." Said Arthur

"Sooner or later you will be king one day. I just want to speed things up." Said Gallan

"In that case-" Said Arthur

"I want to go out. This conversation makes me feel uncomfortable." Said Gallan.

Gallan left all his work and left Arthur in his office. Arthur himself actually wanted to ask about a piece of paper he had obtained from Arnain because he had not told him in his report. Arthur had suspected that someone in a high position was threatening the kingdom.

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