Hallie shook her head despondently and sighed. She knew that Jensen was right and that he'd want to do more than succumb to his fate. But it saddened her nonetheless, knowing they might not even make it out alive. The demons they faced and those they may face were far more savage than anything they'd seen before. It was something they had to forfeit themselves to, however. For if they wanted their children to survive and happily so, the questionable state of the Empire could not and should not exist. ''I should've known that you wouldn't be able to resist,'' she scowled, feeling the headache assaulting her.
''You do know me best, Hall,'' Jensen replied, smiling to his wife. ''We'll be fine; it's all for the children's sake! If those things are taking over the Empire, then none of us will have a good end.''
He turned to Priscilla as she sat next to Sharazz. He stepped forward and took a knee, his hand crossed over his heart as he eyed the woman with intense seriousness. ''I, Jensen Eckhart, pledge my service and loyalty to you, Princess Valentine!''
''My fists shall fight for you until all demons perish and the Empire is liberated!'' He thumped his fist to his heart. Assenting that his blood pumped, for her and her mission. A vow, not meant to be taken lightly.
''Jens! You don't need to be so serious...'' Priscilla was flustered, wanting to stop the man. An oath like this meant being her knight, one tied to her for life. Did he not know this? Surely he did! This was a vow not of love, but of dedication and determination. One that could put a man straight on a path to hell. Was he truly willing to go so far?
''No, Princess! We must be serious. The fate of the Empire depends on it.'' He replied with confidence, without a hint of doubt in his voice. ''I will follow you through fire and brimstone until the day when no demons remain in your path!''
''This I pledge wholeheartedly!'' He said, before bowing his head fully toward Priscilla.
''I, Hallie Eckhart, pledge my service and loyalty to you, Princess Valentine,'' Hallie added, joining Jensen in a kneeling position. ''My husband might be a brute and a foolish one at that sometimes, but he is right this once. For the sake of the Empire, our children, and the lives of all those we care for. We will follow you!''
Sharazz eyed the two with amusement; the woman's thoughts surged for a moment before she merely laughed. ''I, Sharazz Ora Illita, Matriarch of the city of Parth, a descendant of the Great Parthian Empire and Queen of the Eastern Tribes, pledge my service and loyalty to you, little Princess Valentine,'' she said playfully. She didn't kneel, but Sharazz bowed with her hand on her chest nonetheless. She was tempted to do the entire formality, but the woman was a queen despite it all. Even if she accepted the princess, she had to save some dignity for her people.
''The sands of fate are shifting and we cannot remain passive in light of it. Our only choice is to fight for our survival!'' She added earnestly, as she smiled brightly toward Priscilla.
''Sharazz? Even you?'' Priscilla questioned, wide-mouthed. ''Why are you all being like this?'' She really couldn't comprehend it, she was so used to not having anything or anyone in her life. Now all the people she got to know after having returned, wanted to follow her in her journey home. Her eyes reddened as the emotions weighed on her chest.
''The world is changing, Princess. Are we going to let it sweep us all away until nothing remains?'' Sharazz said, her tone cold as she thought of all her fallen brethren. ''My people are not cowards. If you're destined to face the waves, then we won't allow you to do it alone!''
''Yeah, if you're already blessed by a greater power, we may as well make the most of it and stop those damn freaks!'' Jensen added, huffing at the thought of what happened with Auror. He swore not to lose anyone else, not anymore. ''For Jared, Ferro, and anyone else who may have succumbed to those monstrosities!''
''Alright.'' Priscilla sighed, ''Then let's do this! But if we're doing this, we should abandon the city, Shar.'' She added seriously.
''Wait, what? What are you saying, Princess? We can't just abandon Parth," Sharazz uttered with bewilderment. ''Our entire history lies within the city, our people's souls and lifeblood dwells beneath our feet. We cannot abandon it!''
''No, Shar. You must! Think about it: They've been trying to destroy you for how long now? To the point where they even sent Auror and Banshee, who were completely inhumane. If Banshee reports that Auror's fallen, they might bring all they have to destroy you!'' Priscilla was completely serious as she considered the implications. ''When I was in the city, there was a gate that was sealed; within it was an object that showed me glimpses of the future. But because of it, I'm certain that Parth is a crucial part of the Empire's plans for reviving Divala. It may be risky to abandon the city, but I genuinely believe losing the people will be far riskier in comparison.'' She added deliberately.
''Your people's past may create the foundation of the city, but those who remain alive and well, are the ones who truly make Parth. If you lose them the past will die with them!''
Sharazz contemplated heavily as she leaned back into her seat. It wasn't an easy decision to make; if they left the city, people might be tempted to rebel. But if it led the people to survival, it'd be a worthwhile risk, wouldn't it? When faced with unheard-of creatures, a small chance of the best-case scenario seemed far more valuable than taking unnecessary risks. ''Perhaps you're right, Princess.''
''There are tunnels that lead to the Northern Icecaps... It would be difficult for my people in the climate, but they'd need to manage until we can figure out what's happening.'' She added, contemplating the possibilities in her mind. ''I can take two hundred of the best riders with us, and I can get that old goat to bring another hundred of his own. It should give us a fighting chance at least to reach the Imperial City.''
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''If the city falls after we leave, then so be it. At least my people will prosper once we become the victors.''
''Is that leaving enough people to protect the weaker ones?'' Priscilla asked with concern. She didn't want Sharazz to go too far and leave her people unprotected if the demons found out where they went.
''Yes, it isn't a problem. Ebe will stay with them, and there are many strong ones among my people. They'll be fine as long as the creatures don't find them," Sharazz said, hesitating at the end since the possibility did exist. ''On the bright side, the cold region isn't one often explored; it should give them enough time even if the creatures do come to Parth.''
''So while the chance of them being discovered exists... It is quite small overall. We're more likely to get swarmed by the creatures instead.'' She chuckled.
''And do you think Bishamon will go along with it?'' Priscilla added, unconvinced that the man would support them on such a reckless adventure.
''That old goat? He'll be fine! If there's profit to be made, he'll sniff it up, whether we want him to or not.'' She laughed, confident in his lack of hesitation.
Priscilla felt the confidence and warmth, surrounded by the people she fought for, the ones who genuinely cared for her and wanted to help her return. Whether it was for her or the sake of the future as a whole, it didn't matter. They were with her, and that meant more than anything. Together they'd be stronger; they'd break through the border and what lies in the Empire's shadow. It was as good of a plan as any could be.
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While they set their plans into motion, in the Imperial City their events were in motion. After the mass spree of death caused by the Imperial soldiers, a mass funeral was held in the city square. A large pyre sat nobly in the center, lit ablaze. Valentine's retinue carried the bodies of the fallen and placed them into the pyre. The people wailed and mourned the deaths. The atmosphere was heavy, but a feeling of togetherness spread through the city. The people were grieving, but they felt a great breadth of gratitude toward Duke Valentine.
The Mad Emperor was out of control and wrought chaos in the city, and the man in his shining armor sat atop his noble steed and saved the day. To the masses, it was akin to a fantasy story, where the hero comes at the last moment to save the day.
One unnoticeable man, draped in a large cowl that hid his features, shouted out, ''Duke Valentine! You must save the Empire for the sake of our fallen brothers. Become the Emperor and bring salvation to the continent!''
Hearing his shout, many others snapped out of their emotional state, echoing the thought. Whether they had previously thought it or not, they couldn't help but agree. ''Yes, you must! Praise Emperor Valentine!''
''Praise the Emperor!''
''Praise!''
''PRAISE!''
Their echoing chants shook the foundation of the city as their voices boomed from street to street. Growing louder with each addition. The people merely wanted to survive; they wanted to live in peace and comfort. For them, it didn't matter who ruled, only how they ruled. Seeing that the man came in a desperate situation, all for the sake of saving them, they couldn't help but feel indebted to him.
Another man, seeing the crowd's ferocity, slunk away shaking his head, his steps shuffling without making a sound as he left the city square. His gaze was icy as he thought of Valentine's atrocities. The Empire is damned if that man is to take control, but there was nothing he could do to stop it, not now at least. He sighed helplessly. 'What should I do now...'
Valentine walked up in front of the people, his strong, broad figure standing firmly in front of their fervent gazes. ''My people... Your faith truly touches me like nothing else could. I understand; your desires are sound. The Empire has failed you! The Emperor has failed you! But I... will never mistreat you! If you wish for me to save the Empire, then so be it! I, Karthus Ellis Valentine, hereby relinquish my position as Duke and take claim to my rightful place as heir to the Ellis Imperial City! With all of my blood perished, the title must be wielded by me. As such, Emperor Karthus Ellis Valentine is hereby born!'' he roared confidently, raising his sword toward the people.
''All hail Emperor Valentine!''
''All hail Emperor Valentine!''
''ALL HAIL EMPEROR VALENTINE!''
The crowd cheered and roared, their passionate voices screaming across the heavens as the world shook with the power of their fervent desires. Valentine smiled eerily as he watched out; the throne was finally his. All the machinations up until now had finally reached their climax, and the world was ready for Divala to return. He couldn't help but burst out laughing, eliciting nothing but glee from the crowd, who assumed he was merely pleased with his ascension to the throne. People were truly the most innocent and naive at times, their well-meaning a defining trait that throws them in the path of corruption's embrace. While everyone had their plots, both overt and covert. The people wanted nothing grand; they just wanted their friends and families to be at peace. It was a sad state, not knowing that they stood at the precipice of a cliff blindfolded. And the hand of the executioner nudging close to their back, ready to push them overboard.
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From the West, a carriage strolled leisurely toward Parth; a man lay comfortably at the back with his head rested on a scantily clad woman's lap as she fed him grapes. He hummed a tune, relaxing himself.
''Lord Carlisle, are we really going to those dirty sand people?'' the woman asked, her bell-like voice brushing against the man's earlobe as she whispered into it.
''Mhm, we are. Don't you worry my precious little cherub. If you get dirty, I'll make sure to wash the sand off you.'' The man laughed, his charming voice filling the carriage with an unexplainable softness.
As the wheels of the carriage rolled, the sound of whimpering moans broke free of the carriage's confining grasp. The horses huffed and neighed, pulling ahead on their journey. The shaky vibration of the carriage neglected in the silence of the forested path they traversed. The shaking ceased, followed by nothing but a trickling drip, a repeated drone drop after drop, as it trickled down the gap between the carriage and the door. In the carriage, Carlisle sat alone, his face smeared with crimson blood, as the woman lay flattened on the floor of the carriage.
He licked his lips, looking out the window toward the warm starlit sky, ''Everyone's always in such a rush. How foolish, the fun has merely begun.''