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When The Sword Falls
Chapter 5: The First Step

Chapter 5: The First Step

The man walked in to the light of the porch and Ander saw a very familiar uniform.

It was a simple black military jacket with the color red out lining the edges and a golden winged badge over the heart.

The rest of the man was covered in either shadow or a part of his cloak.

The man was probably in his late 40s with a bit of graying hair, but his look certainly stood up to his title of a Hawk.

“I didn’t know anyone survived from the city”

Ander said cautiously while holding on to Mila.

“Oh? Then care to tell who is that child’s mother?”

The man gestured to Mila with a smirk on his face.

“. . .”

“Don’t even bother to hide it, we know. We’ve been monitoring you for quite some time now. How was playing house while

you neglected your duties?”

“Get to the point, what do you want?”

Ander angrily said as he looked around.

The man smiled and started to pace left and right.

“Well, lucky you I’m not in charge otherwise you’d be executed for treason. But our Emperor would like to see you”

“EMPEROR CARNISUS IS ALIVE!!!??”

Ander said in shock.

“Of course, why wouldn’t he be? Well anyways, he wants me to escort you to him”

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

“You don’t”

The man motioned to the woods and six people in hoods stepped out.

They walked next to the man and pulled out swords.

“Now come with me quietly and all will be fine. Don’t worry my subordinates will take care of your child”

“. . kch you bastard”

Mila started shaking when she saw that they were surrounded.

Even Ander couldn’t take on all these people if he had to protect Mila as well.

Ander thought about it and weighted his options.

Finally, he dropped on one knee and put his hands on Mila’s shoulders.

“Mila your old mans’ going to go with these nice people. Just stay here and be good okay?”

Ander tried to say with a smile on his face.

“Come on, while the night is young”

The man motioned and Ander complied.

“. . . . Daddy don’t go. Mommy’s already gone”

Mila said with tears in her eyes.

“Mila have some faith in me. I’ll definitely come back, your mother too. Just wait in the house”

Mila started sniffling but walked back in to the house.

After she went back in, four of the figures followed her in.

Ander stopped one and spoke firmly.

“If you so much as harm a hair on her head, I’ll end you and all your buddies. Got it?”

The figured was surprised but nodded twice and hurried in.

The man started to leave down the path and Ander followed, with the two-remaining people behind them.

----------------------------------------

“You never did mention your name?”

“Just call me Herman. Captain Herman”

The man said nonchalantly as they walked through the forest.

“Now we ride”

Herman motioned to the four horses that were tied to the trees.

Ander got on a horse and the others got on theirs.

They rode for a while in the dark forest with only the moonlight guiding their way.

Yet it seemed that the riders and their horses were undeterred by anything in the forest.

“We’re here. . . Ander”

“The lake?”

“Yes. What were you expecting? The city?”

“At a more permanent place perhaps”

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Ander mentioned as they rode in to the camp.

The camp was composed almost entirely out of huge circular tents.

There were bon fires lit and many people were sitting around them.

Since it was mostly soldiers, Ander could tell that a big operation was underway.

Herman led Ander personally as he waved off his men to go tend to their horses.

They walked towards the lake where the deepest part of the camp lay.

This section had no light, only the moon and the reflection from the lake.

They finally stopped on a small cliff that hung over the lake.

Ander saw three figures waiting for them and dropped to his knees torwards the one in the middle.

“M. . My lord” “My lord”

Herman dropped as well and the Emperor motioned for them to rise.

His armor was just as Ander remembered it, only here it was glistening in the pale moonlight.

But it wasn’t blinding to Ander, it seemed to glow almost like a ghost.

“You’re all dismissed, Ander and I have much to discuss”

The Emperor’s guards as well as Herman nodded and they left the two.

“So how long has it been Ander?”

The Emperor asked with no emotion as his voice boomed from his armor.

“Four years my lord”

“I see you’ve been busy in that time. You’ve started a family, that’s commendable”

“. . .yes”

With a quiet voice, Ander managed to squeeze out a word.

“Now then, you should know why you’re here”

As he spoke, Carnisus turned directly to Ander.

Though Ander couldn’t see his eyes, he knew Carnisus was staring in to his.

“I’m sorry, but I do not”

Ander answered, a little concerned at his lord’s intentions.

Carnisus then broke Ander’s train of thought as he walked towards him.

Immediately, Carnisus pulled out a blade and swung at Ander in the same motion.

The slash went upwards and stopped short of Ander’s neck.

Ander could feel his heart thumping but he did not blink. Carnisus scoffed at this and was satisfied.

With one hand, he stabbed the blade in to the ground in front of Ander.

He turned around and walked to the edge of the outcropping to look at the lake.

“My blade is once again yours”

“!!??”

He didn’t see it before, but now Ander recognized the blade in front of him as the black blade.

It was the one entrusted to him long ago.

“How. .?”

“I hope you don’t lose all your precious things so easily or is this not precious to you at all? The oath that you made”

A million questions swirled inside his head, Ander couldn’t reason how this blade was here.

He had locked it away and so assumed when Emilia used hers, that she had taken it.

And yet that same black blade was just handed to him by his king.

Giving the only answer he could, Ander calmed his thoughts.

“I will try harder this time, my lord”

“You won’t try, you will do. While I should do what Herman proposes and kill you”

Ander gulped at this and made a small mental note to deal with Herman.

“But you are special and you have some use to me yet. I see she’s gone missing”

“Um, yes my lord. Emilia has gone to the city to buy some----“

“Enough lying to me” Carnisus said as he interrupted Ander with a calm voice.

“You should know that I had the Hawks spy on you for a while. We know that you two have been living outside that town.

We also know that you two “forgot” your memories. We know that she’s awakened since she was spotted swinging that

silver sword again. My sword was returned to me after they searched your house”

“!!!”

“You should know that I won’t kill you here where you stand since I believe in your loyalty. I’ll forgive the fact that you

decided to just settle down with her. I’ll forgive the fact that you didn’t kill her when you had the chance. I’ll even forgive you

for lying to me”

“Th-Thank you my lord”

Ander bowed deeply as Carnisus finished his statement.

“All that matters now is what you’ll do for me moving forward. I have decided to conqueror all the surrounding lands. My

generals have been dispatched to the other countries surrounding the lake with sizable amounts of forces. But

unfortunately, one met with an accident recently and the space needs to be filled. You would have taken his place, but

things have changed. Wergil is now the general and is in charge of taking this country. Do you follow so far?”

“You want to wage war against with four countries at once, my lord!!??”

Ander said with alarm in his voice.

“Yes, I have seen their troops. They are nothing, I will unlock the Libracon to reduce their number advantage”

“What. .What is to be my role?”

“You will now lead the Hawks, with Herman as your second in command. Also, you will report to Wergil, but you will notify

me first of all proceedings”

“. . .”

“Don’t worry, I’ll spare your child even if HER blood runs through her veins. But should you stray from the path again, I’ll

deliver your heads to your wife myself”

“Then I must request something, my lord”

Ander said with resolve in his eyes as he looked at Carnisus’ helmet.

“Oh? What could you possibly want to demand from me?”

“The town, I want it to be left alone”

“It was never to be touched in the first place”

“?”

“After all, why remove a place that we know she’ll return to?”

“So, my daughter’s life and my own is secure in exchange for. . . for Emilia’s?”

“Of course, what other conclusion did you have?”

“. . .”

“Now on to business, you will stay in your house and command the Hawks. You are not to leave the town. Money will be

provided to you and supplies will be delivered by your subordinates now”

“How will I led an intelligence unit if I can’t move from the town?”

“You’ll manage, Herman will handle the intelligence gathering while you get to sort through it. Your first assignment is to

find a way to take down Tesuto. It’s not the capital but I want the city taken without devastating it”

“By your command”

“If she comes back to you, you know what to do”

“Of. . Of course”

“Now leave me, and go home, there is much to do”

Ander bowed and picked up the black blade then he walked back in to the camp.

He saw Herman waiting and approached him.

“Hmm? You’re still alive, I thought the Emperor wanted to kill you himself” Herman said slyly.

“Not only alive, but your boss as well. So, all your men are mine now”

“WHAT!!??”

“I don’t remember you in the Hawks all those years ago old man. But you should know I killed a lot of rebels. So, don’t you

dare threaten me or my daughter again”  

He said as he pointed the black blade at Herman.

Just as Ander was staring down Herman, another man approached.

“Ahh, here’s my new Hawk”

The man was even older than Herman and looked like he was in his 60s.

He was wearing a black and green coat with the badge of a general on his chest.

He gripped Ander’s arm tightly as he put his arm around Ander’s shoulders.

“General Wergil!!!”

Herman said while saluting the man.

“Well now come along Ander, we don’t want to keep your daughter up do we?”

Ander was dragged in this man’s pace and was soon walking out of the camp with him.

“Our lord made you the commander of the Hawks against my suggestions. But that still means you’re reporting to ME. Got

it?”

“Of course”

“Good. I’ll send all the documents and the rest of the squad tomorrow”

Ander was then led to a woman on a horse and was puzzled.

“This is Ophina, she’ll be in your care now.

She can cook, clean, take care of your daughter, and assassinate a target or two”

“Hello Commander, I’ve been instructed to take you home tonight”

Ophina smiled and bowed her head a little to Ander while reaching her hand out.

“Please just call me, Ander”

“As you wish”

When he got closer, Ander could see that her eyes were also the same color as her hair, reddish brown hair that was tied

up in a bun.

With a slender frame and a fair face, one wouldn’t expect her to be a trained killer.

But Ander could see her cold eyes evaluating him.

He did the same thing to most people and it was how he intimidated his opponents.

But Ander could feel that Ophina had a better grip of her emotions and her acting skills were top notch.

He got on the horse and wrapped his hands around Ophina’s waist and they set off.