Chapter 01 Part 4
A short Distance from the Border overlying Albion and the Jade Empire
*Flash
Ace, saw a signal flares lit up in the sky, he confirmed the color, red, a call for reinforcement it was the flare that he had given to Gerard and Kia before they went on a separate patrol routes.
“Not again… don’t they every quit…” Ace tried to bury his anger as he thought that another encroachment from the Jade Empire had begun near where he had left his fresh subordinates, he performed two short SENKOUs towards the direction of the flares.
“I hope that at least THE king does not join the fray…” he subconsciously prayed from the bottom of heart, as he remembered last night’s encroachment.
But… as soon as Ace arrived, the scene he saw was something he did not want to see, it was worst than having the Jade Empires King present, no he might have thought that it would have been better scenario… Sure, he was quite proud that his two fresh subordinates had an overwhelming victory against 15 veteran fighters… but they were fighting outside their territories, their battle was engaged inside the territory of the Jade Empire…
“This is… this could be bad.” Ace sipped worry from his mind.
“You’re late Sir Ace…” the energetic Kia standing proudly in a pile of bodies
“Sorry Sir Ace, I could not stop her…” Gerard the bespectacled young boy could only lower himself as he apologizes for his and Kia’s action.
“What are you talking about!?” Kia still as proud as ever tried to retort but…
“No, you listen!” Kia was so surprised that she did not have time to be angry; this time around Gerard was intent to saying what was in his mind this time.
“We are currently standing outside our borders… What do you think will the Jade Empire think of this action?”
The young girl named Kia watched her surrounding and after a few seconds
“!!!”
Kia finally noticed her mistake… their action would definitely be considered an act of encroachment and deemed hostile. In short she, by herself, has declared war on the Jade Empire.
“…but…” She wanted to defend herself as she changed her gaze from the wounded boy and girl, Gerard and towards their leader Ace, but… no words would come out her mouth… the usually bright girl was now meek and instantly lost her confidence…
*sigh, ‘I’m really weak against this kind of thing’, Ace thought to himself.
“For now we should not worry about that, let’s deal with what’s at hand” Ace directed his fingers to the wounded young man and the unconscious young lady lying next to each other.
“Okay…”
Kia answered in another meek voice, although Gerard was concerned about his lady friend, he needed to prioritize taking care of the wounded boy first, and administer healing spells. The boy lying there was about his age [must be somewhere around 14 – 16] his face is contorted must be pain from being shot by that arrow… hmmm? That face where could have I… … …
“!!!”
“Kyle!” Gerard’s voice brought back Kia’s spirit in an instant… just hearing the name made her jump from where she was standing.
“GeNerd, what are you talking about!” a flustered Kia shouted back.
“It’s Gerard… now is not the time for that…” Gerard holds up the young man’s face so that Kia can look closer… Gerard was right; the wounded boy was someone the two knew all to well, his name is Kyle de Guzman their childhood friend.
“Kyle, is it really you?” Kia now showed a worried look.
“Yeah, did not know you two are from Jade” Kyle mustered some strength and asked a question before he could completely went unconscious. “Is Eliza okay?”
It was Gerard who responded. “She’s well, thanks to Kia” Kia was sent to that unfamiliar feeling of surprise to Gerard’s reading the air, she did not want to say it out loud but she thanked Gerard for that.
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Fuente Osmeña Park, Cebu 8th January 2013 – 00:00
The air was fresh in the silence of the night. Only the sounds of the chime bells that were hanged beside the bushes in a row of fully bloomed white Sampaguita flowers continued to echo as the wind continues to caress them.
In the inner most Circle of the Fuente Osmeña Park, 8 people stood illuminated by the lamps. They are the Kings of their respective kingdoms, whose Identities are only known by their most loyal retainers.
Standing at the 2 o’clock was the ‘Empress Wu Zetian’, the “Forbidden Kingdom of the Solitary Will” the Kingdom of the Jade’s Empire’s king;
Standing at the 4 o’clock was Arthur Pendragon, the “Land Born by Magic and its Kingdom Built by its Great Swords”, the Kingdom of Albion’s king;
At the 5 o’clock was Gilgamesh Ashur, the “Great City of Warriors and Home to the Immortals”, the Kingdom of Uruk’s king;
At the 7 o o’clock was Barbarossa, the “Land of Gardens and Kingdom of Beauty”, the Kingdom of Babylonia’s king;
At the 8 o’clock was Kiyohime, the “Land of Solidarity and Kingdom of True Power”, the Kingdom of Yamato’s king;
At the 10 o’clock was Joseph, the “Kingdom of Infinity and Abode to the Gods”, the Kingdom of Etheria’s ruling king;
At the 11 o’clock was Triton, the “Land of Technology and Kingdom Advancement", the Kingdom of Atlantis’ king;
And at the 1 o’clock was Alexandria Ptolemias, the “Library of Great Knowledge and Kingdom of Wisdom”, the Kingdom of Alexandria’s king.
“It’s been a while since we have congregated like this.”
“Not since the rebellion, about a year ago…”
Normally the kings who have been at constant disagreement do not converge because of the difference in ideals, but tonight’s encroachment was one considered to have been a sign that Albion has finally accepted the proposition of battle against the Jade Empire.
Everyone knew that when the kingdom hailed as the strongest makes its move, the die will then be casted, and waging war was now inevitable. For some, they consider this as something good, for now they can openly attack any kingdom they wish to dominate. Some like Albion who did not wish to destroy the balance of their new found ideals considered this unfortunate.
“This might be good for us…” the tall golden haired young man wearing red full-body armor and a hannya mask haughtily sneers. “We are after all trying to dye this country with OUR color.”
“Gilgamesh-ou Waging war will not change anything…” the princess of the Alexandria wearing a simple elegant white dress and with her cat mask which covered her face forced her speech “… didn’t you learn anything from the IUDICIUM Rebellion…”
This must have ticked off the king of Uruk, and made the air turned sour and blood lust was emitted, for someone who was just a second generation and did not even participate in the Rebellion one year ago was telling him about it, must have really made his mood foul.
“I don’t want someone who was not there to give their comments about the Rebellion.” The new kings (second and third generations) could not say anything from a first generation king who values strength more than anyone.
“Gilgamesh-ou…” it was evident that the heated discussion would only benefit those who preferred the open wars. As one of the Kingdoms who prioritized peace, Albion had to intervene “It may sound strange coming from the kingdom that has led to this night’s congregation, but…” Arthur Pendragon wearing only a simple vestment and a dance ballroom-mask, which clearly is an expression of no ill intent laid his apology “Albion has not and will not change its neutral stance; we are prepared to compensate for the encroachment and ask forgiveness to the Jade Empress.”
Uruk, who was one considered to have been into unification by strength, could not consent to this; unification of the entire kingdom under one ideal… their ideal, was what they want. And war was the only way for them to bring about their ideals into fruition. They needed to make it so that the Albion will have no choice but to wage war.
…But...
The young girl wearing a red qipao, which clearly shows her natural curves (no one would dare say that this young lady was a child) just gave a sweet heartfelt laugh, as she hinted a small wink under her golden dragon mask as she said:
“I am willing to accept an apology from Kingdom of Albion… At any rate those that were beaten were not from our kingdom, I should be thankful to Albion to have deflected those that tried to invade our territory. And besides…” her crimson eyes threw in a powerful lust that could seduce any man aiming for true power “We don’t need any permission form the congregation to battle it out with anyone, as long we make sure that no civilian get caught up we are fine the way we are.”
“It seems that war is indeed inevitable” the young lady wearing a white haori and a red hakama reminisce a look of a Japanese miko or a kannagi, was the first to leave even under her fox mask dismay was clearly manifested. She clearly knows that she needs to prepare for the worst.
As soon as the news was out from the inner circle, confirming jeers loudly echoed in the park…
Arthur Pendragon could not do anything as the entire kingdoms had openly declared war on each other.
So in the end, the kingdoms were not united and the congregation was nothing more but a symbol they can leave whenever they desired. If they truly wanted to make the congregation true to its core, the 8 kings must come into a consensus and live under one ideal (which is almost impossible). Because, just like any individual, the 8 kingdoms are build up with people with different dreams and ideals.
One by one the kings left the inner most circle of the Fuente Osmeña Park… the last to leave was the King of Albion… he bore an air of defeat, and after a single deep sigh together with the blue moon he disappears…
The petals of the Sampaguita fall one by one and silently fade. The park begun to bustle lively as the couples and other people happily takes strolls in this park as it begun to busy itself. The white Sampaguita flowers were no more and were replaced with the lush greens.
The storm called war was now drawing near.
