With the trial ended, days passed in the Dark Faction.
Rumors and gossip spread far and wide, about the unforgiving nature of the new king, on how he committed three humanoids to shadowfication and draining the powers of his father and imprisoning him.
Critics all over the Dark Faction felt that the King had taken such drastic measures, when the punishment should be proportionate to the crime.
Some argued that death is too much a mercy for these convicts, especially the hard liners, who proudly proclaim themselves as Royalist and/or Loyalist.
While the King’s actions caused a divide in the opinions of its denizens, it seems that this mess is more or less cleaned up.
A few directives were issued by the King as there were many things to handle.
1.
Lord Styx was assigned to escort the prisoner with the Abyssal Prince back to the depths of the Abyss.
Preparations were made and the escort party is more or less gathered.
They are planned to depart in the morning tomorrow.
2.
Lord Cocytus was assigned to infiltrate the metal empire with a small handful of guards, while the envoys make their way as well.
He is to retrieve or destroy the intel that Karnok the Technomancer had stolen.
The Envoy group consisted of nobles from the notable Dark Families led by one from the madness faction, an experienced envoy Beholder named Narxul.
Notable members in the envoy group includes Jayzee from the Vermin family, and Necrothia, daughter of the Undead Prince, Count Vicken.
This two pronged attack is of a sensitive and political nature and were briefed before hand by Mensarius.
They are to depart tomorrow morning as well.
3.
Lord Acheron has been tasked to investigate and discover the remnants of Prince John’s allies.
With a small contingent of royal guards dressed in Shadow robes, they are to hunt for intel and find out the remaining groups who still support John.
This could expand out to even other nations.
They are to be captured or culled.
4.
Grand Vizier Mensarius has been tasked to oversee the dark council and rule as regent.
5.
The King himself will be making a trip to visit the shadow realm, to continue the conversation with the Shadow Prince and is expected to stay there for a few days.
He will leave tomorrow afternoon.
We find ourselves back in the throne room, where King Kenius addresses his subjects.
“You three, each of you have your own mission.
This will be my first directive to each of you, succeed in your tasks and come back to me.
You are not allowed to fail.
Now go!” Lord Styx, Cocytus and Acheron bowed and left the throne room.
“Grand Vizier, how are the preparations for my depature to the Shadow Realm?” Mensarius adjusted his monocle, and said: “Judging by the itinerary, you are to first travel out by carriage and out of the capital city.
The Shadow Prince has since returned to the Shadow realm to prep for your arrival.
Part of the way, you will pass by a few key places.
The edge of the nation, some of the other races capital, namely the undead and the airfolk’s capital are there.
You will then reach the Shadow’s capital, the Dread Realm.
There, you will be received by the shadow prince.
You will stay there for approximately 3 days, before returning from another route that will pass by the madness capital, followed by the corrupted beings’s forest, before coming back to the Obsidian Palace.
Your attendant will inform you more of the itinerary when you are nearer to the Dread Realm.” “Good Work, I trust that you will rule well in my stead.
The Princes are here so many of them will not be back in their capitals, hence, you will have to deal with them.” King Kenius remarked.
“Indeed, while I have started accumulating experiences in dealing with them as the Human Prince, having the title of Grand Vizier does makes things easier.” Mensarius laughed while contemplating his tasks ahead.
“Very well, I shall retire for now.
Once my carriage is ready, send word and I will go.
Oh and remember, you still owe me a candidate for the fourth member.” With that, King Kenius left the throne room and retire back to his bedchamber.
As Mensarius saw his King’s backview, the immense burden of the crown saddens him.
“My nephew, how I wish you could have a normal life instead.” ——— Back outside, the sun shone down hard.
Morning was at hand and activities were at the palace gates.
All three lords were there, making their final preparations.
“Lord Styx, ensure that the prisoner is secured.
I don’t want to receive another mission where I have to hunt him down.” Milanor remarked.
“Well, wolfey, I trust you can retrieve the intel with much success, assuming your pea brain knows what intel is required first!” Leo retorted back.
Both used to be enemies, but now have new found respect for one another as the King’s chosen.
A healthy rivalry has been formed between the two.
Then, out came Lord Acheron in its skull helmet.
It was accompanied by 5 robed guards, each a royal guard with talents suited for the mission.
They have ditched their shiny armor and halberds for a more stealthy approach.
As it passed by the other two lords, Leo reached out to it.
“Good Luck on your mission, Lord Acheron.
Let us all do well.” Lord Acheron, stopped in its tracks, turned its skull head.
The helmet creaked and groan, as the shadows move the mouthpiece The eye sockets glowed under the four spikes on its head as shadow miasma was emitted.
The hair ornament (Spiky ponytail) swinged around, making for a menacing sight indeed.
This put both Lord Styx and Lord Cocytus in a defensive stance, ready to defend.
“Thank…you….Lord Styx.
All the…best…to you both….” With that, Lord Acheron turned, put its hood up and walked off with its guards again as they begun their mission.
Lord Styx and Lord Cocytus looked at one another, extremely puzzled.
They thought the shadow was about to attack them, never expecting the encouragement to come from Lord Acheron.
As they recovered their senses, Lord Cocytus quipped “All right, this is where I leave you.The envoys are leaving separately, so my team is here.
We will move out in 10 minutes.” Lord Styx finished off by saying: ” Understood, I am to go meet with Prince Thalossa the Drowned to begin the journey.
Once my carriage is ready, I will head over to the palace where the Abyssal folks are at to meet up with them.
Good bye.” With all three lords ready, they set off to begin their own individual mission.
——– Afternoon came, and an attendant arrived to call the King to depart.
“Your Majesty, the carriage is ready and we are ready to depart, sir.” King Kenius donned on the last of his royal regalia.
He picked up his two swords and attached them to his hip.
“All right, lets be off.” At the Foyer, the King walked out of the gate and descended from the steps.
He saw his whole procession all lined up and ready.
A carriage pulled by Nightmare horses.
Royal Guards, both infantry and on horseback, lined up neatly at the front and back of the carriage.
Airfolk flying above, protecting the skies and scouting ahead.
A heavily armored warrior came out and greet the King.
The being removed the helmet and revealed a female face.
A ghostly apparition.
She bowed and spoke: “I am Raven de Rolo.
A banshee of the undead race, and the contingent commander of your procession.
I will guide you to the Dread Realm and back.” “Your Majesty, I will be joining you as well.” One of the King’s attendants, a harpy of the airfolk race, introduced herself as she landed behind the king.
“Ah, Attendant Mai, very well.
Lets board the carriage, commander.
I do not wish to delay the journey any longer.” With that, the banshee, the harpy and the King headed to the carriage.
As the King reached the carriage, Mai opened the carriage doors.
The royal guards stood at attention, presenting their arms to their King.
The King waved to dispense with the ceremony and boarded the carriage.
Mai then went in after.
Commander Raven de Rolo took point at the head of the column.
Then royal contingent began its march and left the Obsidian Palace.
In the carriage, it is like a pocket dimension.
The space is much bigger than expected, but the interior is still that of a carriage.
Mai began to take a clipboard out and started to read the King the program.
“On the way to the Dread Realm, there will be a few planned stops.
On the journey, we will first pass the edge of the nation.
Basically, the edge of the floating ziggurat.
Tonight, it will be the Necropolis of the Undead.
Both Prince and his eldest son are away, so you will be met with the eldest daughter.
After a day’s rest, we will continue heading on to the airfolk’s capital known as the Aviary.
It is my hometown as well, where you will be greeted by the previous airfolk prince.
Estimated time will be a day.
Finally, we will then head to the Dread Realm, where the Shadow Prince, One-who-walks-in-shadow, has arranged to have an audience with your Majesty.
Time for the journey will be a day too.
It will then be a three day affair with visits to prominent locations in the Dread Realm.
If not, that is all for now, and I shall let your Majesty rest.” The King nodded and looked out the window, and take in the view of his country, as his procession brings him out of the Palace and into the capital city.
Crowds gathered to watch the procession, but there was not much cheering like the coronation.
King Kenius noticed the fear in the beings’ eyes as he laid eyes on as many of the citizens.
Nevertheless, King Kenius waved regally at the crowd.
The citizens whispered and mumbled.
“The tyrant king” “The king who instills fear” “Be good, or I will ask the King to punish you!” One parent remarked to their kids, causing them to cry.
This occurred all throughout the major thoroughfares that the procession passed by.
Some cheering from the loyalist, but mostly quiet filled the streets.
As the procession left the city and onto the high roads, the nightmares and guards picked up speed.
King Kenius reflected back on the sights he had seen.
His city, his kingdom, has changed their opinion of him and now seem to fear him instead.
Although it pained him, he decided to close his eyes to catch some rests and to not pay attention.
Kenius then awoke, but in a familiar place.
He is back in the dome.
“It has been a while, YOUR MAJESTY!” The great phantasm roared out with suspicious glee.
“The great bat!” Kenius then questioned.
“Why am I back here?” “I summoned your spirit here to speak to you.
Do you think you can enter my domain on your own whims?
Gyahahahahhahaha, you do not have that power, young king!” The bat sarcastically told the King off.
“You summoned me, for what purpose?” “I just want to tell you.
Recent events have set off machinations that no one can control.
Your actions will have consequences, both good and bad.
The wheel of fate of turning!” The bat flapped and remarked.
“You always speak in hints and riddles.
Is this a warning of some sorts?” King Kenius cautiously asked.
“All I can say is if you screw up, it is not going to benefit you or me.
Be careful where you thread.
Some things are better left unspoken.
Good Luck, Dark King.
Gyahahahahahahah!” Then the great bat began flapping its wings.
A great gust of dark wind blew the king out of the dome and back to reality.
“My King!
My King!
Thank goodness you are awake.
Are you alright?” Mai was shaking the king profusely at this point.
“Mai, why have we stopped?” “We thought you were having a fit or something.
You closed your eyes and then its as though you had a seizure.
I informed the guards and the commander stopped the procession.” Galloping of hooves were heard and the Royal Guard Commander, Raven de Rolo, approached the carriage.
“My King, are you alright?
Do we need to turn back?” Kenius shook his head.
“Its ok, continue.
I just need some rest after all.
Mai, call me up when we reach our first stop.” “Understood, my King.” And Raven de Rolo galloped off, resuming the column’s march.
Mai nodded her head in agreement and the King closed his eyes once again, hoping to find a momentary respite, hoping that the great bat does not summon him again.
Lets give it a try and see how that works.
Next chapter will be Leo, aka Lord Styx’s POV.