[John Gloom’s POV]

‘Creak!’

The door being ajar made the sound as it was pushed by a rush of wind. The dark damp room in which we stood was now lightened by the soft emergence of the moon in the sky.

“What’s the situation?”

I asked as I tried to comfort myself with the wind.

“Everything’s going just as you predicted.”

Novah exclaimed in rejoice as the plan was withstanding the barriers and we were finally ready to make our very first move.

“Hmm..”

I nodded and looked at Elena who stood with her bow and arrow. She wore a confused look which wasn’t anything new, but right now I don’t blame her to be like that.

On my right hand side, Naomi tried leaning on me as a habit of hers to stick to me. On the other hand, her other twin Jin was standing on my left leaning over a wall.

I stood in the middle which made it easier for me to watch everyone’s movements and them to address me.

“So…let’s see.”

I said as I raised my arm and clenched my fist. Seeing my gesture Novah walked towards a door in the room, which had been quietly jacking itself due to wind. He calmly pulled the lock and opened the door to the balcony of that room.

As Novah opened the door, moonlight enriched the area and we all stood in the light with our shadows vanishing in the darkness beside us.

Footsteps approached us as the door which was ajar was opened buy a large hefty man.

It was Muriel.

“He’s making his move.”

He said as he walked in.

“You’re pretty slow.”

Novah remarked as he pointed the way towards a man riding a horse afar.

“Nothing escapes your sight.”

Muriel said as he walked beside me.

It was indeed that nothing escaped Novah’s vision. He was ‘Gifted’ with the ability of clairvoyance, which enabled him to see anything, anywhere provided it is in his range and capacity to see.

He called it ‘Hawkeye’.

“He’s moving towards Terra.”

Novah said as he looked at me and then the others.

“Go as planned.”

I let out a sigh as this was definitely the beginning of what I had dreamed of and everyone had struggled for so many years.

“John?”

Muriel interrupted as he leaned down on me.

“Killing someone is a crime you can never repent.”

He said with a sorrowful voice. It was rather a warning than some concern yet I had to do what I had to.

“I know, but it is necessary.”

I remarked as I looked at him and then stared in his eyes for a moment. I proceeded to move forward towards the balcony with my arms folded behind my back.

“You have the arrows I asked you to collect?”

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I asked Elena who stood close to the balcony with her bow in her hands.

“Yes, but I don’t know why you asked me to go through such a hassle.”

“It is because….Tactics.”

I replied to her as she loaded an arrow bathed in blood in front of me.

“The outcome of the fight is decided even before it begins…”

I said as everyone continued to listen to what I was saying.

“A war is never won by soldiers nor the generals. It is not won by your machinery or your power.”

I said as I stared Vivet and its three villages. Kaeri, Katei, Jukyo.

Beautiful as ever, they were going to get engulfed in a selfish war which I was going to resurrect. I had reasons to do it and so does everyone. Some follow me, some seek truth, some seek revenge and some seek…

There are many reasons, but the question is do they believe in what they believe?

Sometimes to achieve something you need to lose something yet in my case I lost almost everything. I was not a King, I never should be. The gods didn’t chose me, he did.

In fact I despise Gods, I despise every last one of them.

But the irony is that now I was enroute to help them.

“A war is won not by your courage, but by your cunning.”

I said as I looked down towards the man who was running away. He had done nothing wrong, but was going to die for my sake or for everyone’s sake.

“Today we kill an innocent and maybe in presiding future we may have to indulge many more, but we won’t kill for no reason. This man will lead us to our goal, so we do it.”

Novah nodded and looked at Elena who responded with a nod as well.

She loaded her arrow in her bow and raised it high. She pulled the string as hard as possible.

“Raise the bow thirty degrees north-west.”

He said as he used his gift to rectify where the man was.

Elena did what she was asked to do. She raised the bow and looked at Novah.

“On my count…”

She focused herself and controlled her breathing.

“One…….Two….now!”

As the signal was given an arrow went in flying with tremendous speed and successfully hit the man. He was off his ride and fell down in despair with his arms trembling due to pain.

Muriel shut his eyes in sorrow and so did I.

“Hmm....Elena proceed to the conference arranged. I have some work to do.”

I said to her.

“Huh? Alone?”

She questioned.

“Yes.”

“But what should I tell them?”

“Tell the other Kings that I had some more pressing matters to attend. As it is, we have got the letter from the War Council.”

I said as I turned around and walked towards Jin.

“Reach out to them and secure the package.”

I whispered in his ears. He nodded and immediately started his motion.

“Let it begin..”

[The War Coucnil]

The Council’s was over.

Edwin walked along the bright sunshine alongside his Master.

“Master?”

He asked him as he had to break the unnerving silence between both of them.

“A calm and collected individual can achieve they desire.”

Master responded as he folded in arms in front. His facial expression conveyed dismay and his voice worry.

“I am sorry. I shouldn’t have lost my…”

“Apologizing is another way of accepting defeat.”

His Master said with a daunting tone.

“I didn’t say you were wrong,” he continued, “You should choose your moments wisely.”

“Yes, Master.”

Edwin nodded. He moved his arms and tried loosening up as he walked.

“If it is not prude of me, then may I intrude?”

Came a voice from behind us.

Edwin turned around and saw General Juan walking towards them.

“Of course.”

Master responded.

“It’s been a long time, Xiao.”

General Juan said as he addressed the Master who stood with his arms folded.

“I have been busy.” Master Xiao answered in a soft voice, “Tell me what brings you here?”

“Nothing noteworthy, though I do wanted to warn a certain someone.”

“Uh?”

Edwin peeped in the conversation with a more confused face.

“Revivers are gaining sympathy it seems.”

General Juan said as he ignored Edwin’s reaction.

“Yes, it seems so.”

“I mean if they can bring people back from dead, then they ought to have some sympathizers.”

General walked beside them and halted after some distance.

“Still peace is what we preserve and they are an enemy to that.”

“What do you suggest?”

Master asked him with a straight face.

“Well, I have sent a commission to the King of Vivet.”

Edwin firmed his posture as he heard that statement.

“It was his carelessness that this all is happening and yet you trust him with the task of finding them?”

Edwin inquired.

“Don’t underestimate him. ‘The Ravens’ which follow him are said to be one equal to hundred foot soldiers and…” General responded and looked away, “John himself, be wary of him.”

“It seems as though he has piqued your interest?”

“Yes, indeed he has…”

Edwin walked towards the General with his eyes staring straight he asked, “Why is that so?”

“Edwin, there are people who are born good and some acquire evil, but sometimes it feels that John was born evil. He is the pure embodiment of evil.”

He responded as he took his steps back and turned around to walk away.

“Was this for me?” Edwin asked, “The warning?”

“I don’t know, though I did say a certain someone.”

The General responded and disappeared as he walked further and further away.

“A human is bound to be agitated when provoked,” Master Xiao said as he proceeded besides Edwin, “Remember, fire when left untamed can even burn a forest. If you go on a rampage then you might lose things which are more important.”

Edwin listened to his Master’s speech as he clenched his fists. His arms shook of anger and his face seemed unpleased of the matter presented in front of him.

“John….”

He said as he looked at the sky, the voice wasn’t filled with determination nor was it the sense of revenge. It was……