Memories: My Kingdom

Chapter 59: Attack

“Dragon?! Why a dragon?!” Gie asked as he loudly cursed. His face has an ugly expression and it is obvious that he was both shocked, and scared and he can only curse to let his emotions out.

Contrary to Gie’s reaction, Mhir is… “WOW! A dragon! So magnificent!” she exclaimed as she looked up at the dragon flying in the sky with awe in her eyes. “It has been so long that I have last seen one!” she said with a happy smile on her face, which looks very wrong because everyone around her, excluding Leui, are shaking in fear.

Leui’s attention was drawn by her. “’last seen one’?” he muttered. “When did you last see a dragon?” he asked. Are they reclusive creatures? He thought. The possibility is high.

Mhir turned to him. “When I was forty years old!” she answered. “The dragons roamed in the sky and they are very big creatures!” she said. “They fly fast, and their wings are so strong that all the trees around that were hit by the gales created by their flapping wings were all smashed to the ground!” she explained.

Gie nervously gulped. “… so mighty.” He muttered as he fearfully looked up at the sky, particularly at the dragon that blew out a fire.

Mhir nodded, feeling pleased by Gie’s compliment to the dragon. “They are very, very brave creatures!” she said. “Because of their thick skin that is one of the characteristics of the beast race, they are always the vanguard during the wars.” She told him.

Gie slowly turned to her. “… is this a prelude to a war, then?” he asked as his lips twitched.

“How can that be?!” Mhir exclaimed in shock. Her eyes widened as she looked at Gie while frowning. “Everyone is at peace! The leaders of each race all signed a peace agreement led by lord Loheiruchel after the Great War. Why would they suddenly start a war?!” she asked.

Gie, after living in the human kingdom, naturally has already heard about this Loheiruchel. “It is because they are all dissatisfied.” He answered. “Loheiruchel outsmarted them during the Great War and forced them to sign the peace agreement which they didn't want to sign. Naturally, they will be dissatisfied.” He explained to her.

Mhir’s mouth was agape. “No way!” she denied. “Lord Loheiruchel is very strong and it is just that he would win! Everyone already agreed, so they should keep their promises!” she said as her eyes reddened.

Gie wanted to ask her if her conscience doesn’t hurt saying those words. But, when he saw her red eyes, he fell silent. Obviously, Mhir deeply loves humans. Even though the other races, where she belongs, are physically stronger than the humans, she still can say that humans are stronger than the other races.

Her fanaticism towards Loheiruchel is very deep.

Gie turned to Leui. “Say something.” He told him.

“Something.” Leui spoke.

“… that really helps a lot. Thanks.” Gie sarcastically said and smiled out of irritation.

Leui felt helpless. “She is already over a hundred years old. She knows how to deal with her emotions, so don’t treat her as a child.” He told Gie. Although Mhir was always treated as a child because of her height, she is already too old for humans. “Anyway, we have to evacuate the people somewhere safe.” He said.

“I’ll help!” Mhir spoke and stood.

The ground has finally stopped shaking but the humans still feel the horrifying pressure in the air that is coming from the dragon in the sky above them.

“Let’s go!” Gie said as they approached the humans and guided them away while waiting for the knights to arrive.

In the castle, everyone was kneeling on the floor.

“Father!” Eliese cried as she caught her father, Khander, who collapsed.

“Your Majesty!” Fedrey called as he ran to the king and the princess together with his subordinates.

“Why did you arrive just now?” Khander asked.

“There was a message that arrived from the east.” Fedrey spoke as he carefully pulled Khander up.

“Can it be worse than the dragon that is now attacking the Capital?” Khander asked.

Fedrey declined to answer as he just pulled the king and the princess outside the castle that might collapse at any moment. “The beasts suddenly rioted and attacked the people. Fortunately, Fedrich was there and saved them together with my subordinates.” He spoke.

Khander suddenly felt that he aged for ten years.

“I already have sent some people to them. Meanwhile, I had the rest of my people to help the citizens of the Capital evacuate outside it.” Fedrey told the king.

Khander sighed in relief and his complexion improved. He looked outside, particularly to the dragon in the sky. “Fortunately, Loheiruchel’s barrier is still there.” He said when they saw a transparent barrier that appeared after the dragon hit it.

The barrier is surrounding the whole human kingdom. Five hundred years ago, Loheiruchel created it. He might have already foreseen that the human kingdom will be attacked by the other races so he created this barrier to keep all the humans safe.

Fedrey hid his frown so that the king and the princess wouldn't notice his mood had changed. He doesn’t like Loheiruchel. He doesn’t believe in the human hero. Humans don’t have any powers. If they do have, then that wouldn’t make them a human. He also doesn’t like the humans worshipping Loheiruchel. For him, Loheiruchel is nothing but a fraud. A peace agreement? That is just a trap for both the humans and the other races. The other races obviously would get mad being coerced, and this peace agreement is just an illusion to deceive humans who will inevitably be hated by all the other races.

And now, this barrier. To keep them safe? As if it is to keep them safe. In fact, this is a cage! Humans think that staying inside the barrier makes them safe. But, this is just to make them think this way. Look! He even has a male elf as his partner! He must have betrayed the humans, as he isn’t a human! Loheiruchel wants the humans to stay inside the cage he made for them to keep them from seeing the truth – that the other races are dissatisfied with the peace agreement… that they wanted to go to war! Because he coerced them! He must want the other races to destroy the human race!

Loheiruchel took advantage of everyone being caught off-guard of him possessing powers to win the Great War! And because the other races weren’t prepared for this as they don’t know about him possessing powers, they don’t know how powerful he is so they were forced to sign the peace agreement out of fear, and treachery, since he actually disappeared after! The peace agreement bound the other races from attacking the human race. And so the peace lasted, until now.

Fedrey lowered his head to hide the anger in his eyes. “Your Majesty.” He called after they got outside of the castle.

The king turned to him.

“In fact, the peace agreement…” Fedrey spoke. “... is only for five hundred years… right?” he said.

Khander’s eyes widened while Eliese fell silent. The knights are far from them to scout the area so they didn’t hear them.

Khander composed himself. “How did you know?” he asked.

“The recent attacks by the other races.” Fedrey answered. “Although we have celebrated the Peace Festival for five hundred years, but these few years, the other races are still experiencing the aftereffects of being bound by the peace agreement so they still haven’t attacked yet…” he explained. “… on a large scale.” He added.

Khander fell silent.

“Royal knight Fedrey.” Eliese called.

“Fleur.” Fedrey turned and then bowed to her.

“Take me to the Sallia Kingdom.” Eliese spoke in a calm voice.

It was Fedrey’s turn to become silent. Then, he spoke, but towards the king. “Your Majesty.” He called. “This is your solution?” he asked. To marry Eliese, the only princess of the Heiruche, to the prince of the Sallia Kingdom.

He has heard of the prince of the Sallia Kingdom. He is older than Eliese by a few years. But –

“The people of Sallia Kingdom are all cowards for escaping the human land after the Great War!” Fedrey can’t hold back his anger anymore. “And you want the Fleur to marry its prince?!” he asked as he looked at Khander with eyes wide in disbelief.

Khander’s expression is very heavy. “Go south. Use the sea to reach the Sallia Kingdom.” He spoke. “Eliese has to marry the prince of the Sallia Kingdom as soon as possible while the other races are still under the aftereffects of the peace agreement.” He said. “We’ll counter-attack the other races from the inside, while the Sallia Kingdom will attack them from the outside.” He explained.

Fedrey’s mouth fell open in shock. Then, he pressed his lips tight to prevent himself from cursing because of anger. He clenched his fists, then turned on his heels before he marched towards his subordinates.