Characters Current info:
Rudravaan — The Emperor
A fearless ruler and master swordsman. Calm even in defeat, he carries the pride of his kingdom to the very end.
Morvyn — The Physician
The emperor's loyal friend and healer. Wise, quiet, and burdened by sorrow, he stands as the last witness to a fallen era.
Chapter : 2
After everything had settled down, the Emperor, the Physician, and the soldiers gathered around the table. Just before the discussion began, the Physician asked, "How did Emperor Rudravaan suffer such terrible injuries? He was the strongest swordsman—what happened out there?"
One of the soldiers replied, "Even we were shocked, my lord. We've never faced such an overwhelming army. The emperor fought like a storm—fearless and relentless. He alone brought down half their forces."
Another soldier added, "There were ambushes everywhere, but he never faltered. The enemy realized that if they kept fighting, they'd lose countless men. They withdrew, believing he would die from his wounds and blood loss. None of us thought he'd survive… yet here he stands."
Everyone gathered in the dimly lit room.
The emperor sat on a wooden chair, his body still wrapped in bandages, pain flickering behind his calm gaze.
"Sit," he said firmly.
The soldiers obeyed, taking their seats in silence.
"We must return to our kingdom," Rudravaan began. "Our enemies will not wait. They may already be searching for us. We must rebuild — train harder than ever before."
At his words, the soldiers rose with renewed resolve, soon filling the camp with the sound of clashing swords and determined voices.
Turning to Morvyn, Rudravaan said, "Watch for enemies while I'm gone."
Morvyn frowned. "Where do you plan to go in that condition?"
The emperor smiled faintly. "Don't worry. I'm only going to catch some air."
He packed lightly — one rusted katana sealed in its old sheath, one new blade, and a bit of food. Then he stepped into the forest.
After walking for some time, he sighed and checked his bag.
"Ah… I forgot my booze."
Days passed like this, until at last he reached the towering gates of another kingdom.
A weathered sign read: "Southwest Kingdom."
He entered through the gate, watching life unfold around him — merchants shouting, children playing, people laughing without fear.
Following the scent of roasted food, he stopped at a small street stall.
The shopkeeper glanced up at him, eyes widening. "Whoa, what happened to you? Get you get into a fight"
Rudravaan gave a faint smile. "Something like that… a long battle."
"What are you looking for?" the shopkeeper asked.
"Booze," Rudravaan replied simply.
The man said. "You're in luck — there's a famous bar right at the end of this street.but take this advice leave as soon as possibe after you finished your business here."
"Thanks," said Rudravaan, and made his way there.
As Rudravaan walked down the street, he happened to hear people mocking their new emperor.
He showed no reaction and simply kept walking.
Inside, laughter and music filled the air. He sat at the counter and ordered a drink. The bartender slid a bottle toward him without a word.
As he took his first sip, a stranger entered — rugged, carrying a sword. He sat across from Rudravaan, beer in hand.
For a long moment, the two men said nothing.
Only the clink of their bottles echoed between them,
After finishing his first bottle, the mysterious man let out a satisfied sigh.
"Ohh… this is what I expected," he said, smirking.
Rudravaan glanced at him briefly.
"Another!" the man shouted.
Without hesitation, Rudravaan raised his own hand. "Another."
They drank again.
And again.
Each time the man shouted for another round, Rudravaan echoed him calmly — until the stranger's expression twisted from amusement to irritation.
His hand slammed against the table. "You mocking me, aren't you?"
Rudravaan simply tilted his bottle, taking another drink.
The man clenched his teeth but suddenly barked, "Another!"
Rudravaan met his eyes — and shouted back, "Another!"
The bar fell silent. The laughter stopped. The bartender froze mid-motion, eyes wide in disbelief.
The stranger stood, rage burning in his eyes. "Are you trying to pick a fight with me?"
Rudravaan, his voice slow and slightly slurred, replied,
"Why would you think that?"
That only fueled the man's fury. He drew his sword with a hiss of steel.
"Then draw yours! Let's see what kind of drunk you really are!"
Rudravaan sighed softly. "If that's what you want…"
He rose from his seat, gripping his new katana in one hand — the blade half-drawn, ready for a single strike — while his other hand still held the bottle.
The bartender panicked. "Fenlor! stop! Don't fight at my bar And look He's injured — he's not from here!"
But Fenlor didn't listen. With a roar, he swung down his sword —
CLANG!
A sharp metallic echo filled the bar.
Everyone gasped. Fenlor's blade was stopped — his blade halted effortlessly by Rudravaan's sword.
The emperor hadn't even looked at him. His eyes stayed fixed on the bottle as he calmly took another sip.
Fenlor stumbled back, stunned.
The bartender's voice trembled, "He… he blocked it with one hand…?"
And Rudravaan, still drinking, murmured under his breath,
"Your swing's too heavy. You'll never win like that."
With a loud thud, the stranger set his mug down and glared.
"Who the hell are you?" he demanded.
Rudravaan blinked, confused. "Are who… you? No, wait— you who… no, no…"
Fenlor's brow twitched. "That's who are you!"
Rudravaan gave a lazy smile. "Yeah, yeah… 'who are you,' that sounds right."
Fenlor let out a long sigh. "I'm someone who helps people in need."
Rudravaan chuckled, taking another sip. "Pfft—hahaha! Oh, really? Then why did you attack me?"
Fenlor slammed his mug on the table. "You're the one who irritated me first!"
Rudravaan tilted his head. "Oh… sorry about that."
Fenlor frowned. "Oi, what the hell are you apologizing for now!?"
"Fenlor, enough!" the bartender snapped, wiping a glass with one hand and giving the two men a sharp look.
Then he turned to Rudravaan. "And you—who are you, exactly?"
Rudravaan set his drink down and replied calmly, "Well… I'm Rudravaan."
The bartender's eyes widened slightly. "Rudravaan, huh? Alright then, both of you—sit over there." He pointed toward a corner table. "Drinks are on the house today."
Fenlor blinked. "Wait, what!? Every time I ask for free beer, you tell me to get lost!"
The bartender smirked. "Yeah, because you're a troublemaking brat. Why should I give you anything for free?" He nodded toward Rudravaan. "But this guy—he's something else. A swordsman strong enough to knock you flat. Shouldn't we celebrate that?"
Fenlor crossed his arms, grumbling. "Tch… we don't even know who he really is. For all we know, he could be some bad guy pretending to be a hero."
At the end of the day the bar had emptied. Only Rudravaan and the bartender remained, the light low and the air thick with the smell of spilled ale. Rudravaan pushed a few coins across the counter and stood to leave.
"Hey — you," the bartender called, stopping him. "I don't know who you are or where you're from, but after today… can I ask a favor?"
Rudravaan paused. "What is it?"
"Fenlor," the bartender said, lowering his voice. "What do you think of him?"
Rudravaan considered for a moment. "He's a good swordsman. If someone else faced him, they might lose."
The bartender laughed, then grew serious. "Could you keep an eye on him? Guide him a little? Show him a better path?"
Rudravaan shook his head. "You know I'm not from here."
"That's why I asked," the bartender said.
Rudravaan leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing. "Ahh… I think I understand now. You're planning to rebel against the kingdom, aren't you?"
The bartender froze, shock flashing across his face. "H-how did you know?"
Rudravaan sighed, meeting his gaze. "When I first entered this kingdom, everything seemed… almost too normal. No hunger, no fighting — just peace. Too much peace. Then a shopkeeper told me to leave as soon as possible. And the way people talk about their emperor… it didn't sit right. Either this place is truly perfect, or the people are quietly united for another reason."
The bartender's face turned pale. "You're right. We're planning a rebellion against the king. That's why I'm asking."
Rudravaan's gaze softened, though his voice stayed calm. "Understood. I'll keep an eye on Fenlor —but I can't keep him to me"
The bartender nodded with a faint smile. "That's all I can ask for."
The bartender let out a slow breath, tension fading from his shoulders. For that time that night, a faint, grateful smile appeared on his face.
As Rudravaan turned to leave, he suddenly stopped and walked back inside.
The bartender looked puzzled. "What happened? Forget something?"
Rudravaan scratched his head. "Ahh, no… I just realized I don't have a place to stay."
The bartender chuckled. "Don't worry about it. You can stay upstairs—second floor of the bar."
Rudravaan smiled. "Oh, thank you. How much for the room?"
"For you, it's free," the bartender said with a grin.
Rudravaan nodded gratefully. "Ahh… thank you."