Chapter Two: "Where it all started" Part (2)
It's been a week after the funeral of the late Queen. Today was the day of the coronation. A new ruler would sit at the throne and lead the kingdom.
The front yard of the kingdom, which is the plaza was fully crowded. Everyone was there to witness the new ruler of the kingdom.
There was a small platform stationed at the balcony of the throne room.
Then, a man with his white robe came out and faces the whole crowd.
"Today is the day where we witness the coronation of the new ruler of the kingdom of Oryn…" although his speech was a bit long.
"Looks like everyone is eager to see me," a man with blond hair and blue eyes speak behind the small curtain. He was standing waiting for his cue. He was wearing the outfit of royalty, and his mood was great.
"Of course, your majesty. No one will pass this event and besides, these will be a memorable moment in their life," the grand duke of Scounbeirgh, Duke Vesta said.
"Memorable? For me, it will be a nightmare," Ash spoke. She was standing a few distances away from the new king.
The new king quickly glared at her. "Be careful with your words, Knight Ashlyn."
"As if I would, we are the only ones here anyway. The nobles are in the ballroom or maybe outside witnessing your stupid coronation…" Ashlyn was cut off of her words when the king quickly pulled a sword out of the sheath of one of the knights and point it toward her.
"Be glad that you're alive, Ashlyn."
"I am glad, Your Ma-Jes-Ty," she sarcastically addressed him and shrug her shoulders. They look at each other intently. The Grand Duke just let out a sigh. The two were not on good terms. In the beginning, the two were just rivals and fight childishly. It wasn't worst back then when the queen was still alive. Every time they are together, they somehow end up fighting.
"Please behave you two," that was the only thing that the duke can say.
The new king put back the sword to the sheath of the knight and returns his attention to the crowd. Ash straighten her back and returns to her composure.
"TO THE PEOPLE OF ORYN, I'LL INTRODUCE TO YOU THE NEW RULER OF THIS KINGDOM, THE NEW KING, KING MATHIAS OF THE ORYN KINGDOM," the man in a white robe shouted and all the people who heard him exclaim in joy.
Mathias flips his red royal cape, and walk toward the small stadium. His blond hair flicker together with the sun and his blue eyes glimmer the joy he is feeling. Together with him was Ash standing behind him. With her blue cape and silver armor, and her gray hair that been tied into a high ponytail.
When Mathias waves his hand, the people shout for his name. "King Mathias! King Mathias!"
It was a memorable day for the citizen of the kingdom.
After the coronation event, everything turned back to normal. The new king was busy with paper works and leading the kingdom. Ash was also busy training soldiers and being an adviser to the king.
For two years, everything was fine. It was a typical year for the people and the one who works inside the kingdom.
But, if there are good days, there will also be bad days.
One day, during the second reign of King Mathias, bad news falls to the kingdom.
"This is bad; two of our enemies had allied themselves. They are planning to attack this kingdom, your majesty," one of the nobles expresses his concerns. They were in a big room with an oblong table in the center. All the nobles and officials were there to discuss the matter at hand. Ash was there behind the king, standing as a knight and an adviser.
"Before this meeting gets gloomy, let ask for the king's ideas. What is your solution to this matter, your majesty?" Duke Vista asked him. Everyone's eyes focused on the king. He was there sitting with his legs crossed, and his hands tangled each other.
"Why everyone does sound it as the end of the world?" he jokes.
"It will be the end of the world if you don't decide soon, your majesty," Ash speaks out. She was listening to the whole time but, never speak a word. The nobles and officials that were there gasp in horror. Everyone knows that if you speak ill toward the king, you are a charge of crime.
For two years, they don't still adapt to how Ash speaks toward the king. They know that the two don't get along, but during their workdays, their ideas are always matched each other.
"You always ruining my mood, Ashlyn," Mathias spoke in a cold tone. He wasn't directly staring at her but, his killing aura was intense. Ash rolled her eyes and stare at a different location.
"You just give me an idea, Ashlyn" Mathias smiled at everyone, and lean his elbows on the surface of the table.
"If these two kingdoms ask for a war, why don't we give them what they want?" he said in a cheerful tone. Everyone looked back at each other and tried to process what he said.
"Did you forget already?" the king stood up and put his hand together behind his back like a professor teaching a class. He walks around the table slowly.
"Whenever this kingdom goes to war, we always gain victory. Not even once we've been defeated. If we do that again, surely," the king stops behind his chair and leans his arms on it.
"We will win."
Everyone nodded in agreement. "True, this kingdom won't become big without gaining a continuous victory."
"Now that the king had decided, let start the process," Duke Vista stand up and walk toward Ash.
"Chief Commander Ashlyn, please train your men for these upcoming battles. And also, don't forget to go to the temple. We need to ask Elliot for heavens help."
The king heard this and felt jealousy in his heart. Even though he is the one leading the kingdom, some still rely on Ash or to the temple. He knows that without this two help, there will be no victory. He turned his back and clenches his fist angrily.
After that meeting, Ash commanded the squad to train harder for the upcoming battle. Then, she went to the temple as the duke order her to.
"Oh my, if it's my dear friend Ashlyn," Elliot was there standing at the gate of the temple. Spreading his arms like he was expecting a hug but, Ash ignores this gesture and stands in front of him.
"The kingdom needs the temple, chosen one," Ash formally speaks. Elliot's expression turned serious. It wasn't the time to joke around. He led Ash inside the temple sanctuary.
"Is this about the upcoming war?" he asked.
"You know the answer to that answer, chosen one," Ash said without looking at him. Elliot was now standing in front of an altar and burn some incense and put it on a small jar. Every time he hears Ashlyn address him like that, he feels the distance between them widening.
"Since the kingdom is asking for the temple's help, this chosen one will be of assistance to the kingdom's victory. You can sit while waiting for me, Chief Commander. My prayers will take a while to finish."
"Thank you, chosen one," Ash sat down and watch Elliot pray. This was not the first time he sees Elliot pray for the kingdom. And every time he prays, she feels comforted. She always keeps an eye on him. He was dashing when he prays as if there was light above his heads.
It took an hour before he finishes praying.
"I had completed praying for the kingdom victory, Ash. You can go back now…" Elliot didn't finish his words when he suddenly out of balance.
"Elliot!" Ash quickly catches him before he hits the floor.
"Is something wrong? This is the first time you collapsed after praying for that long," Ash said as she let Elliot sat down on a bench.
"Well, it must be because of exhaustion," he said.
"Exhaustion? What have you been doing lately to make you collapsed like this?"
"Well," Eliot sat up straight and looks down. "The heavens gave me a mission. However, this mission was difficult. I need to spend a lot of time doing what has to be done."
"What was the mission?" she asked. Elliot looks at her and faintly smiled. "You will know in the future."
"In the future? You've been acting strange lately, Elliot. Is there something I can"
"I think you need to go back to your squad," Elliot slowly stands up and turned his back from Ash. "They need a leader to guide them, or they will misbehave."
"Are you going to turn your back from me again?" Ash exclaimed and quickly grabs his arms. But, he didn't face her. He quickly pulls his arms away from hers and briskly walks away from her.
"I wish you good luck, Ashlyn," then he was gone out of sight.
Ash stares at the hand that grabs Elliot's arms. She knows that something was up, but Elliot won't say anything.
"I will know one day, Elliot," she stares back in the direction where Elliot had gone.
Following that day, continuous training was happening at the training grounds. Days after days, the training was non-stop. Ash was strict when it comes to training. She wanted these knights to know how long would a fight would last and how it would feel at the battlefield.
Ash was known as a strict commander but, she was good at teaching these knights despite the complaint towards her.
The training lasted for a month, and then the day has finally arrived.
"Baron Ed, the day had finally arrived for that woman to leave the kingside," a noble was talking to a skinny middle-aged man. The two were inside the mansion of this Baron Ed looking outside the window of his office.
"Finally, we can manipulate the king without that woman at his side," Baron Ed wickedly smiles while blowing his pipe.
"But, there's still that duke, we have no chance against him. What if we fail?" the fat man noble said. Baron Ed blows some smoke and looks at the fat man.
"Did you forget already about that sweet tea?"
"Oh, you mean that crazy tea?"
"Yes, that's correct. We only need to hire a maid inside the kingdom and made him some tea that he would crave anytime. And, then," Baron Ed stand up and went closer to the fat man. "He will be gone mad that he won't think straightly at all. His anger toward his cousin would fuel and he will treat that duke like a cockroach."
"That's wonderful, Baron Ed."
"This won't work if the king had no resentment toward his cousin, Ashlyn, and the duke who is in favor of that woman from being the queen. His anger and jealousy would add to that fuel and he will become my puppet!" the two laughed wickedly at their idea and can't wait for that to happen.
Outside the kingdom was a parade of the knights and leading them was their Chief Commander, Ashlyn.
The citizens were outside of their house and cheers for the soldier's safety and victory.
Ashlyn pulls out her double-edged sword and raises it in the air. "All Hail to the Kingdom of Oryn!"
"All Hail to the Kingdom of Oryn!" the knights repeatedly shouted these words as they move toward the battlefield.
"Let bring victory to the kingdom once again!" Ashlyn shouted and look toward the direction of the battlefield. She feels that this battle won't last long but, there was something bitter at the end of her tongue. She feels that something will go wrong, and she doesn't like that kind of feeling.
'Whatever it is, I will overcome that problem after I killed those bastards', she thought.
The way they left the kingdom was maleficent in the eyes of the citizen.
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