Season One | Tears of Woe
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Revolution Arc
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12 | Chess
IT HAS BEEN HOURS. During the investigation, Lucas realized it must not have been too long -– a day at most since the spy escaped. He paced back and forth, his frustration growing with every passing second. How could a highly guarded prisoner disappear without a trace?
He was about to call off the search when one of the guards called out to him.
"Sir, you need to see this!" he heard the voice of the guard. Then he rushed toward the guard quarters, watching the prison guards move about the room, searching for clues.
The guard from earlier approached, holding up a small silver emblem the size of a pebble. Engraved is a symbol of two wavy swords crossing each other in the centre. Lucas did not recognize the emblem.
Lucas's brow furrowed. "It looks like two kalises. The double-edged sword used by the Alardi. Where did you get that?"
The guard looked uneasy but said, "The floor.” Then he pointed at the stone floor adjacent to a wall. “We’re also missing a key,” he whispered.
Lucas' heart sank. This was not good.
He gathered the guards and began a frantic search of the prison. His fears grew when they found one of the hidden passages leading out of the prison.
Lucas clenched his jaw upon the realization that someone on the inside had helped the prisoner escape. No… more precisely, someone had infiltrated the ranks of the prison guards.
It did not take long before Lucas finally called off the search, and when he gathered the guards, they were missing a few, confirming Lucas’ suspicions. “Fuck,” he cursed under his breath.
The spy was their final salvation in stopping Isaac’s execution. He previously failed to get anything out of the spy – and now, he even escaped. “Something’s wrong… very wrong,” he said, cursing in his mind.
Then he closed his eyes, with no time to think of his failure, but instead, what could the spy’s escape may spell. When he saw the emblem, it was confirmation that Isaac’s suspicions were accurate. “Isaac’s execution is today… This isn’t a coincidence,” he whispered.
“It is them,” he said vaguely, much to the guards’ curiosity, before vanishing into a pool of shadows.
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Meanwhile, in another dungeon located elsewhere is the sound of dripping water echoing through. Isaac sat on the cold stone floor in deep contemplation.
Through the iron bars, his eyes were fixed on the metal door at the end of the long, narrow corridor. He knew that soon enough, the guards would return to come and get him.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps drew his attention. But his heart sank when he realized it was not the guards. He looked up to see a man, his face hidden beneath a hood, standing before him. The young man lifted his hood, revealing a friendly face, and whispered, "I'm here to get you out. The others are ready."
Isaac looked at Ishmael and smiled. "No, my friend. I must not leave.”
Ishmael's eyes widened with confusion. "What do you mean? You’ll be killed. We can stop this."
"I know. But you must understand that escaping means putting the others in harm,” explained Isaac.
The young man shook his head and knelt. "Everyone is prepared to die, Isaac. Everyone has been prepared to die since they joined the movement."
“And that is not the path I want our people to take. We must fight, but we must do so with honour and dignity,” said Isaac when they heard the sound of clanging metal, footsteps and voices growing louder.
“You need to leave,” Isaac urged before placing a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Remember, there is a hidden enemy out there who will use the RMA to achieve its goals. Never forget what you are fighting for, Ishmael. You have the strength, courage, and passion for making a difference. Bring Alardice a brighter tomorrow."
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Ishmael clenched his teeth and looked down. Seeing his hesitation, Isaac pushed him away. “Go.”
They exchanged a look of understanding, and Ishmael slowly backed away with misty eyes. Isaac watched him leave with a heavy heart but also with a sense of peace.
When Ishmael was out of sight, he said, “Come out. I know you’re there, Lucas.”
Then from out of nowhere, Lucas revealed himself. “I would have let them help you escape. Why stay?”
A light chuckle escaped Isaac’s lips. “Must you really always see me with uncertain—”
“Even if you live or die. Did you really think the RMA would let this go without a fight?” interrupted Lucas and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms.
“I trust that they would fight with the pen and diplomacy,” Isaac said with certainty.
“Is that so? Then you are a fool,” Lucas said before showing him an emblem and how he found it. "This is why I'm here."
Isaac furrowed his eyebrow as he looked at the emblem.
Then his concentration was briefly broken when the door across the corridor opened, and a pair of guards showed themselves. Lucas told them to leave and that he had something to discuss with the prisoner.
"Hurry up. The execution will soon take place," said one of the guards with a disgruntled voice.
Isaac then studied the emblem and said, “Only fools would be careless to leave evidence. I do not recognize it, but it seems my suspicions might be correct.”
“Leaving this thing could mean many things, or it could also be a matter of simple carelessness,” Lucas said. “But more importantly, does the RMA know? That they may be being used by a yet unknown power?”
“You already know the answer to that. Yes, they are aware,” Isaac said. “But there is no proof. I can only trust they do not play right into their palms.”
“With your guidance, they won’t,” said Lucas and placed the emblem back into his overcoat pocket.
Isaac sat on the floor and leaned against the wall. “A guidance I could not provide. My battle is over, Lucas, and I have lost.”
Indeed, the clergy and the peninsulars had made their move, and it was Isaac’s turn. He chose not to escape. Escaping would mean going directly against the Crown and the movement losing everything it had fought for, including nullifying all its efforts on the Imperial court.
To go against an Imperial decree would also force Theodore, as the new Governor General, to wage war against the RMA and declare them an official enemy of the Crown. This would mean an escalation to armed conflict, which would only result in the clergy, the peninsulars, and the hidden power getting what they want.
“Have you truly?” asked Lucas.
“You’re here because you want me to confirm your biggest fears,” said Isaac. “And yes. Everything is already too late, and even I... had or have no power to stop it... My hands are tied… It's a checkmate for me.”
Checkmate. This was always how Lucas interpreted politics back in their days at the university. A game of chess. Isaac still remembered. “So, Lucas, tell me, what is Theodore’s move?”
“Theodore has no power or real allies. The allegiance you created with the nobility is an allegiance of mutual benefit. There is no longer a benefit,” said Lucas.
“Yes. Isn’t that why he has been rebuilding those alliances?”
“Yes. They will side with Theodore… but will leave the RMA to its fate,” Lucas said and closed his eyes. “He offered the nobility the same offer as Lucius did, to continue from where you left off.”
Isaac nodded his head in understanding. “He does not aim to make peace with the hidden power. He prepares for war. It is only inevitable.”
Lucas agreed and said, “Which means it is the RMA’s turn.” Then for one last time, Lucas opened his eyes and looked at Isaac. “Farewell, old friend. You have fought well.”
Isaac smiled and bid him farewell. He closed his eyes and prepared for what was to come, ready to face his fate with bravery and dignity.
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The sky above was cloudless while the sun hung high. Theodore previously argued the RMA and Isaac were not responsible for the assassination, pointing to a hidden power instead. But there was no evidence, and they did not believe him.
No, Theodore thought that perhaps, they actually did but ignored it because of their greed.
Isaac himself also warned him not to push it, which would only lower his credibility. It was a hopeless situation.
Ultimately, due to politics and the Imperial decree, he was helpless to stop the execution.
He breathed deeply before looking at the large crowd that had gathered at the city square. Men, women, and even children had come to witness the execution of his friend, and many of them were in tears.
Isaac fought for them. He fought for their rights.
Despite the sense of dread and helplessness, Theodore clenched his jaw and looked at Isaac, who stood on the gallows with arms tied behind his back. However, Isaac’s expression was calm and almost serene.
Isaac briefly met Theodore’s gaze, and both offered each other a light nod.
Theodore then looked at a heavy-set man donning priestly robes. He had a cruel sneer, watching with cold detachment as the executioner approached the man on the gallows.
"Any last words?" the executioner asked, his voice tinged with sadness.