Chapter 2: Dirt from Dirt Part 1

[Aqua 12th 1430]

The Divine Empire has fallen, blood and tears have swept across the territories. And its corrupt Royal family have now been overthrown by a coup d'état. The forces who lead the coup d'état was the Royal forces of the southern army. Controlled by the Field Marshal Blazing who opposed the Emperor from its coronation.

It was conducted with such tactics and strategy that was participated by many officers within the high ranking status of the military itself. With careful and extensive planning they have analyzed that if they proceed into this, they will be branded as traitors of the empire but if they will succeed into this coup d'état a new empire would be reborn from its stench of weakness and corruption.

As it was conducted on that night and it was a success now it brings new order from the stench of corruption. With that, the change of the royal family was instigated. followed by the reformation and re-organization of the Military officials, the Ministry Heads, the councils and advisors for the emperor.

With that change, also comes the cleansing of corrupt noble families that had embedded themselves deep into the roots of the Divine Empire. Those corrupt noble families made the territories unstable to rule and make the sovereignty of the Emperor to be at a puppet-like power. Those corrupt noble families were placed to those territories because of their influence and mischievous intrigue mixed with their high ambitions. That power was abused and it only made the emperor as an unpopular figurehead.

They also have those territories because they seem to hold the old Emperor within their grasp. That is why corrupt noble families can easily deceive the opinions of the masses, as the people became easily being manipulated by these corrupted officials.

Now as the new order has now been proclaimed they are frightened to what will happen to them. Soon the order of the Field Marshal Blazing will be executed and that order will be the meaning of their end the "Cleansing" the cleansing is an order only be trusted to the emperor it was a royal decree that an emperor can execute and cleanse its divine lands for the goodness of its people. With that order comes the word "New order in the Empire" it was the main words of the knights who have been able to be chosen to join the Cleansing Brigade.

While there are noble families that have agreed for the coup d'état to happen. There are also noble families who abstain in participating in the coup d'état. Because they also look into their families security and that is what the catch is because if the coup failed they will be branded as traitors of the Empire and if that happens they will be executed.

it was also added that because some of the noble families did not join In the coup is because it was after a war between Coalition kingdoms and the Republic of Kioka. and some noble families who are military families thought of their men as in low morale. And some really did not join because they are loyalist from the Empire.

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It was 11th of the Aqua star 1430, The moon is high up shining down on the darkest shadows of the Xethova city, the breeze of the wind is cold as ever. Soon before it was 10:00 pm at exactly 9:55 pm the bell sounded *DING DONG DING DONG*

The soldiers would immediately form outside of their barracks still sleepy and dizzy. they were all in their sleeping attire. Soon a command is given by the officer that was in front of them "Equip up and wear this red ribbon and tie them on your shoulders no one will remove it!" shouted by the officer in front of them. Then all of the soldiers would synchronously reply "Sir, Yes Sir!"

That order was the starting point of the coup d'état. Regular forces from both cadets to officers would remove their patches that aligned themselves to the monarchy. soon they would put a red ribbon around their arms as it signifies that they are allied with the Field Marshal.

There would still be some gunfights and sword fights skirmishes from the Royal Elite Guards and the Elite pontifical guards of the Emperor. but it would only end up to their defeat nothing else. Some officers were prepared for that night but some were not. As the bell sounds the officers who did not prepare would still be asleep or did not care about the ongoing coup d'état.

There are also a few chain of command staff officers that once served the emperor turn their backs to the emperor and supported the Field Marshal. There were few casualties from both sides as there some skirmishes that occurred but it was only minor injuries. No soldier or officers died that night, it happened very fast as no one believed it's already happening.

After a few days, the takeover of the Field Marshal would start the implementation of the "Cleansing Brigade" and starts the arrest and crackdowns of criminal syndicates that ruled over the capital City of Xethova behind the underground which is locally known as the black market. This includes the Hand of Black Spider and The Red Eye Bear Syndicates that have been ruling the Black market for over 20 years.

The new crowned Emperor Gethoven Blazing once seated on the throne ordered the "Cleansing" which means to exterminate or to remove all noble families who became neutral or disagreed with the proposal of the coup d'état. It is also added that the Noble families who are allied to the old Empire Royal family are also to be executed on-sight.

One of the families that had been neutral with the proposal of the coup d'état is the well-known family and with a famous General Theodore Maxell Cartelan. He was betrayed in the battle of the Lennington Plains by his Aide de camp who is currently leading the 12th Corp and his name is Lt. Colonel Gragas Von Seigh.

As the forces of the Cleansing brigade headed by Colonel Arnold Garnier they move quickly as they take their order from the Emperor himself. Without any hesitation, they quickly exterminate over 20 noble families 12 middle-ranking families and over 10,000 people killed 2,000 people have been forcefully removed from their titles and authority, and ordered them to enter the prison or even sold to slavers.

Those 3 days and 2 nights engage with the new forming empire. it has been called the "3 bloody nights" within that extermination. The Cartelan was one of the middle-ranking families that were neutral and they were exterminated as well.

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It was a normal day of the 17th the of Aqua 1430.

The Cartelan territories were peaceful and quiet. The farmers were doing their normal routine of harvesting and planting crops for their land to be offered to the manor once the end of a star. Meanwhile, the children would play in the open field, the smiles on their faces were unmatchable by any money. As the breeze of air was comforting as it seems.

It was noon at that time when they received news from the capital that the middle-ranking family such as the Cartelan would be Cleansed by the Emperor. from the watchtower from afar would then signalled that there is a brigade of cavalrymen raising a crest flag of the Royal family.

Because of fear, some children quickly run towards their homes. some of the farmers would look at the approaching cavalry and would stop from planting as they would stand up and raise their straw hats for a better look. Some of the mothers would hide their children inside their home.

Soon another flag would be raised by another knight that was riding the horse. The crest flag was the emblem flag of the cleansing brigade. that was ordered by the Emperor to cleanse families that are not worthy to stay any longer inside the empire. As they rode and pass by a tower they are now officially entering the Cartelan territory. there is a taboo between families that if you enter a Military family such as the Cartelan and you have a sword with you that means you are disgracing that family.

The Cleansing brigade that was sent has reached the Cartelan manor. but before they reached the Cartelan manor they have passed through multiple towns such as Argen Shire and Etheria Shire. Once they reached the Cartelan manor in two staggered formations facing the gate. Then they are halted by about 30 armed guards of the Cartelan Manor. "Halt!" commanded by one of the armed Cartelan guards.

The as the armed guard shouted that command one of the Captain knights pulls out a scroll order from his pouch back that was sling on his chest. then he began to speak with a loud voice

"The Cartelan family is hereby removed from their status as Dukes and Duchess of the lands of Argen Shire and Etheria Shire. Because of the following offence. namely not following the Field Marshal Orders. Or so do I say New Emperor."

After that announcement, the captain knight pulled out his claymore sword. and aimed it at one of the Armed Cartelan guards.

"KNIGHTS! OF THE DIVINE EMPIRE! THE EMPEROR HEREBY DECREE AND ORDERED US. TO REMOVE THESE FILTHY NOBLES OF THEIR POWER AND TAKE THEIR LANDS. THROUGH GIVEN POWER INVESTED TO ME BY THE EMPEROR BLAZING! CHARGE!"

Then 5 knights hops down from their horses and destroyed the steel lock that was hindering the horses to charge in. as it was destroyed the forces quickly trot inside trampling the guards that were shocked and did not know what to do.

But the armed guards were no match with skills and knowledge of fighting but they have the greatest weapon within them and that is the courage to protect that one they serve faithfully to their own death.

and that is to protect the lady duchess and young master of the Cartelan family. They still remember how Duke knelt before them and begged for them to protect his family.

"Aiya!" The armed guard would slash his sword-bearing down to one of the knights that we're unable to block him. As the sword cuts through the chainmail armour that was to protect the flesh of the knight.

After that, the blood spurts onto him. He would then be covered in blood as he pulls his sword and then followed by another thrust. "DIE!" then the knight slowly drops his claymore sword and blood increasingly come out from his mouth.

As for some of the armed guards, their morale was boosted a little bit but it would soon fade. as the Knight would see one of their brothers got slain by a lowly armed guard. Their furious rage let the other guards unable to counter the strike that the knight can give.

Some of the armed guards were decapitated somewhere lacerated deeply and as they begged for mercy. and some would be pierced through their neck and as it goes out from the nape of the head. The blood would be everywhere.

It was almost the brink of nothing it was despair from the start. The armed guards were cut down 1 by 1 as to the last 10 remaining armed guards. While the cleansing brigade was still in full shape as there are only a few minor injuries and one casualty from their side

Then they soon noticed that there is a thick fog that was going closer and closer towards the Cartelan manor. and one of the knights would recognise the crest flag that was being raised it was the flag of the Elite guard of the General Maxwell Cartelan.

It was led by Captain Gragas Von Seigh. Then one of the knight from the Cleansing brigade would shout "Halt your horses and stand down we are her-" The guard was lacerated from his neck by an Elite guard the blood would be like a squirting fountain as the body slowly falls to the ground. It was soon followed by a massacre. The predator was turned into prey.

Soon the Elite guard fend of the cleansing brigade that was sent to the Cartelan manor. the armed guards were delighted to see that they were saved by Gragas.

With a low voice and wounded appearance, the head guard would walk slowly towards the Captain. Meanwhile, Captain Gragas would hope down from his horse and walk towards the Head guard. Then the head guard would give praise to Gragas and said "My good Sirs thank you, for helping us fend off those cleansing brigade scums it was an honour to fight with you. in the honour of the Lord Cartelan.."

Gragas would then signal one of his trusted knights. Then the trusted Knight only replied with a nod, then the knight would walk towards the Head guard like an intention of helping the Head guard stand up straight.

But when the knight reaches the Head guard he quickly pulls out his sword and thrust it in inside the head guards stomach piercing it through the flesh and the blood can be seen spurting from the stab. As from the head guard face, it was vomiting blood and as he looked at the eye of the knight it was blank as nothing and empty space.