Chapter 13: The execution day

Ray

I grew up as a kid thinking that I am different from others. Not just because I was feeling, I am the center of the world like everyone else does. But I felt like I was able to see, feel, and say things that even elders find daring to do. When I was five, I asked my mother once: "Mom, how are people made?" She blushed and said: "You are still young to know about this!" I said: "I wasn't talking about sex; I already know about that. What I meant was, how did it start? How did the first humans exist?".

I started questioning the existence of life from a young age, which usually happens years later. My parents weren't a huge help for me when I was young, and they started avoiding my brave and annoying questions.

I remember at school, sitting alone on the last seat in the classroom, bored, watching everyone's actions and trying to get into their personalities and predict their future for fun. 'This kid is always late. He does not appear to be from a poor or wealthy family, but he is always messy, irresponsible, indifferent, and careless. If there were no major changes in his life, he would only get a C-tier job, with the typical problems that comes with it; some family problems, and perhaps a divorce knowing how messy, chaotic and aggressive he is.' But my prediction that time was wrong. Eventually, a big change affected his life, and it was me. I couldn't hold myself once, I spoke with him and said all that I thought about him. The situation escalated badly, and we got into a fight. It turned out with me assaulting him physically as well. After that, he got bullied by other kids as well and then excluded, to end up being on the wrong path and become jobless. I always felt superior, and I knew why. I simply was able to see the truth and speak it. And if my growth were to harm others, I would, without thinking, step over their faces to rise. But in this new world, I felt like I have changed. 'Would I abandon one of those people, if it is beneficial for me? Would I be able to do the same thing I did to my family years ago to build my company?' And I looked at them while they were smiling and happy with their new friend Lucky.

Akira brought me back to reality saying: "Ray, what do we do now?" After a moment of silence, I responded: "If the attack is really happening, we need to use that to our favor. Their objective should be the royal family. We need to find them first... The only problem is that we don't know where to look for information."

Theodore's phone rang, and he started talking: "Yes... yes, sure... I'll see you there."

When he finished, I said: "I didn't know you use phones in this world."

He said: "Actually, this is just a device for us, soldiers, to get orders and instructions."

I said: "Do the king and his son have something like this as well?" he nodded. I completed: "Selia, have a look at this device. Can you hack through the system?" She started messing around with it while we kept talking.

Based on Theodore's last phone call, the execution is in two days, and they need more guards for this event. The king will make a statement, but as per usual he won't be there personally.

After hours of discussion, we ended with the following plan. Selia, Taki, and Lucky will stay home. Their role will be to try to hack through their network for information like everyone's position, or more specifically, where the king is. Theodore can keep pretending to follow the orders, and he will be having Akira and Maki close for help. Their role will be simply to slow down the attackers. As for me and Benjiro, with his ability Waves, we will be going straight for the king. After we cleared everything up, Lucky said (•̀ᴗ•́): "Everything is ready now, why don't we enjoy ourselves tomorrow? Tomorrow is the anniversary of the Elthias kingdom. We can have a lot of fun." He was talking to all of us, but his words seemed to be specifically directed at Selia. And that was when I noticed that he didn't stop flirting with her, the moment he saw her. She said while she was addressing me ^_^: "Yes, why don't we go and have fun?"

I said: "You apparently don't realize how dangerous and serious this is. And as for you Lucky, I don't fully trust you yet. As you can see, I did put you with Selia and Taki, just so they can watch you closely, till we prove that your information is correct."

He said: "Soon enough I'll prove that I'm a friend, don't worry!"

"Friend?"

He said: "We can at least watch the fireworks from here, right? What do you say, Selia?"

Selia responded: "Yes, that's a good idea." And I left without saying a word.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

The next day, we enjoyed the view from outside and were preparing for the execution day. I was wondering at the time, why would they execute someone right after a ceremony like this, but they had a reason for it.

...

The execution day was overcast; a dark, cold, and gloomy day. Theodore's team went first to the location they asked him. As for me and Benjiro, we went with the crowd. The muscular man, the one that got blamed for killing his family and the whole city, was standing in front of everybody waiting for his death. Apparently, he was paralyzed somehow, to not use his blessing. Suddenly the king showed up, flying high up in the air. An old man, with a wooden cane in his hand. Bald and had a winter-white devil's fork beard. He said with his brittle and confident voice ♚: "Greetings everyone. People of the Elthias kingdom. I, Albert Elthias, the sixth king of the great Elthias family, stand here, to ask for your help in deciding which verdict I should make. We all heard recently, what happened to our families and friends that left with my son Marshall Elthias." He stopped for a moment to wipe a tear out of his eye, and he continued: "I have here the man responsible for all of this. A traitor manipulated by other kingdoms that wish disaster for this beautiful city. I'm currently looking at him, not knowing what punishment appropriate is." He stopped, and everyone in the crowd started screaming: "Death, Death, Death, Death..." He raised his hand to stop them and continued: "But because we live in a democracy, we shall let him speak and defend himself first, even though he doesn't deserve it... What do you have to say for yourself?" He then looked towards a guard nearby and said: "Let him speak!" The muscular man started speaking with his trembling voice: "As I said before, I didn't do it. The man behind all of this is dangerous, and he killed my family as well. I don't care if I die today, all I want is justice for my little sis..." And they stopped him from talking again. The king said: "Lies! Today is the day you will pay for your sins, and shall your soul never find happiness! ... They thought we were weak because my son and I were separated, but little do they know, their hopeless attacks just made us stronger and reunited us back again." And then Marshall, son of the king showed beside him. He said with furious eyes: "Whoever did that to my city, is a dead man." Albert looked at him to stop him. From what I have seen, their relationship is clearly still tense, even though Marshall was back in the kingdom. They probably knew the truth but decided to blame the muscular man. As for the king and his son, they now have a common enemy, which is me. I was disappointed because my plan backfired on me.

Suddenly the sky darkened; it was like an eclipse but, it wasn't clear what was hiding the sunlight because of the clouds. I immediately signaled to Benjiro, and we started running away. I said: "You are slow! I'll try this! Grim Reaper: Takeover" I turned to my ghost form, and I got into his body. 'I can make you run faster, but this will extremely exhaust you.' And I started running towards Theodore's house... I got in, Selia was still working on the device we gave her. I looked at her and said: "Selia, get the others and leave the house now. The attack is bigger than what we expected!"

She said: "Oh, Benjiro you are back? Where is Ray?"

I said with a harsh tone of voice, forgetting that I'm in Benjiro's body: "I said leave now!"

"Okey, but first take this! I found all the locations of devices like this one. And after analyzing them on the map, I think these are the positions of the king and his son. it's just a guess after all because they seem to be trying to protect these two." And then without waiting, Lucky, Taki, and Selia left the area. 'Benjiro you have to endure this with me. I need your blessing; I can't let you go now.'

From far away, I can finally see what was covering the sunlight. A meteor just appeared and scattered the clouds. It was big enough to destroy everything in that area. And on top of it was a man with green hair, looking down and smiling. The king and his son disappeared. Apparently, what we have been watching, was some sort of a hologram to display their images. 'My goal now is to find them. According to Selia's map, they are so far away from this area.' I headed towards that location. With the ability Wayves, I avoided the crowding of people freaking out after seeing the meteor. And I also avoided the guards surrounding the king with the help of Selia's map. I got into a white villa house full of guards. After that I avoided a lot of traps, opened several doors, and barely avoided some of the strongest people in this kingdom, I finally was in front of the king's room. 'From what I can sense, all those people are so much stronger than me. There is only one way to do it.' And I kicked the door. Three people were in that room. The king, his son, and the man with the hologram blessing. I started running towards the king. He said⸨◺_◿⸩: "Who are you? Stay where you are!" And he raised his hand towards me and said: "Wind Element: Timeless Vapor Eruption" To fire a strong hot wind attack from his hand. I kept running towards the attack. When I got close enough to it, I got out of Benjiro's body and went through the attacks with my ghost form. They didn't know that I was hiding in Benjiro's body and they thought that I got hit, so they lowered their defenses, I took the chance and kept flying towards the king with my hand in front of me to enter his body.

'There is no turning back now, I'm only milliseconds from touching his body. I can see a lot of guards coming in already, if I fail on this one, we are screwed.' And when I touched him with my hand, I got electrified and blasted away. He had a shield protecting him from spells. He said: "So my son wasn't mistaken. There is indeed someone behind all of this, that has nothing to do with the royal families." I really felt the presence of a king back then, he was looking down at me without moving an inch, and despite his age, he was talking with a lot of confidence. Dozens of guards and special forces started appearing as the ground quaked from the meteor's drop. (◣_(◣_(◣_◢)_◢)_◢)