ALAINA

But even before Alaina herself has the opportunity to reconsider her decision or rethink about the probable consequences of her actions, her own heart allows herself to falter in her confidence and her firmness.

At the very final second, the tip of the blade just a fraction of a millimetre away from Trajan's chest, it freezes.

Alaina can't bring herself to do so; she isn't even in any position to. She hasn't got the experience or, frankly, the skills.

The general seems to notice this, too. He seizes the opportunity, but not to attack like what Alaina had thought he would – on instinct, she clumsily swings the blade and it cuts the general's arm – and instead Trajan only shifts slightly in an attempt to get out of harm's way, waiting patiently for her to let her guard down.

"Alaina, please calm yourself. I am not the enemy," Trajan says yet again.

But she isn't listening. She refuses to listen. Yet she knows very well that if she starts a fight, she will lose, if somehow Trajan is the enemy – but his actions show otherwise, at least for now. He is not hostile.

She'll have to do this slowly. She must set the rules of a game that's not won by strength, but by other qualities that she overpowers the general with. And that is of no problem to her, since she holds the power to set the board, to set the pieces. After all, Alaina is the one with the key to victory, the winning piece – she's the one holding the weapon; on the other hand, the enemy is weapon-less – he is as good as dead whenever she deems it, in one single conclusive move.

She takes a careful step back, but still holds on to the sword defensively, her other hand faintly checking if her dagger is still safely strapped to her thigh. Her actions, through unsaid words, are willing the general to take a stance – she is testing him, his loyalty.

The general sees the freedom before him, and stands, slowly but steadily. Trajan carefully maintains a distance between them, knowing the weapon is still in her hands, that she has the upper hand despite not being a fighter.

"Alaina." Trajan dusts his armour. "Shall we? We should get going, to inspect the situation outside. Although the haze managed the creep into this room, it does nothing except to irritate our sense of smell and spark coughs. However, I am worried about the people outside – the rebellion. The installation ceremony seems to be interrupted by this sudden occurrence as well since there seems to be no sound, and because of that, I am worried. I do not quite comprehend what is going on, and I would like to see for myself."

Alaina analyses the general. If he's lying, he's good, because there simply isn't any possible way to tell if he is. Or, he might just be telling the truth. But there's a part of her that doesn't want to believe him no longer. And she maintains her resolve, because she is once told to never let her decisions falter. But with her stubbornness, even if she isn't advised so, she never ever lets her resolve dissolve into nothingness.

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There is a reason a decision is made in the first place, never doubt it.

"That would be wise," she muses pretentiously. "Move along, then. What are you waiting for? Please, I am sure the great general is not all talk but of no actions?"

She is much unsure, but she can almost swear she sees Trajan flinch.

"My sword, your highness." Trajan composes himself back into the great man he's known to be, brushing off the cut from his very own sword like it's nothing. "I'll be needing a weapon."

"And I do not?" Alaina insists.

"Your dagger –"

"Besides," she cuts him off, "you have not proven yourself worthy of my trust after what you just did to me moments ago."

Alaina stares into the general's conflicted, confused eyes, searching for a hint of darkness. Her eyes trace him, moving to his fists, that clench and unclench from time to time. Yet whatever she's searching for, is not found. She finds nothing.

"I shall hold on to this."

"Very well." Sighing, Trajan turns to where the haze is most accumulated – the centre of the podium. "We need to check on the rebellion."

"You go ahead." Alaina turns to the opposite direction, facing the bell tower that's hardly visible not too far away. "I'm worried about Lloyd."

And without a care of the general's protests, she sprints in the direction of the bell tower, her mind racing at the same time, wondering why the haze isn't at all harmful despite Trajan labelling it a 'poison'.

*****

LANCASTER

The bodies falling to the ground isn't the only thing that's bothersome, because immediately as Lancaster and Clyde both step out of the small back room and into the open podium area, their lungs feel as if they're collapsing and shrinking in on itself, like a blackhole swallowing them internally.

Lancaster can hardly think as he coughs hysterically, but he understands just enough to yank Clyde hardly by his arm so that the both of them are back into the room they were once in, the room where, although they indeed had difficulty in breathing and seeing clearly, is obviously safer than the open air exposed to the mass haze outside.

After minutes of struggling for air on the ground, Lancaster manages to say, "I have no idea why, but the air seems to be deadly outside."

"That's why... The people are falling to the ground..." pants Clyde, still breathing heavily, trying to breathe in the air around them, however hazy yet at least safer than what's waiting for them outside. A horrid thought strikes the both of them. "You don't think they're... dead?"

Lancaster tightens his fist around the hilt of his sword. "I have to seek out her highness."

"Where could she be? In fact, Trajan..."

"This room is not too small. It is only this filthy haze that is obscuring our vision. Please search for Trajan."

"What –" Clyde pauses, but understands very soon. He trusts that Lancaster has a plan of his own. "And what about you?"

Lancaster tilts his head to the direction of the bell tower, where Lloyd has just set out the flare one cannot simply miss, even Kai and Rose beyond the kingdom – after all, it is made by Kai's own flames.

Despite his boastful arrogance and irritable behaviour from time to time, Lloyd isn't someone who might do something without thinking of the outcomes. He must have set out the flare for a reason, calling out for help.

If that is the case, Lancaster is certain of two things: one, that he is in some kind of trouble, and he is signalling for help; and two, that Lloyd isn't the only person he'll be seeing there – for Alaina, even Kai and Rose, would definitely head there immediately, after acknowledging the signal flare.

"I know exactly where she will be."