"Today, I gather all if you here, citizens of FAN KAI empire, to witness the death and execution of the greatest assassin of all our empire. He has done that which was forbidden in our law. He has fallen in love with the kind of our enemy. We do not tolerate the behaviour of disobedience, so I hereby pass judgement upon him, for his head to be cut off and his body thrown into the Avian river. "
*Loud cheer *
"Now, release the dead reaper"
Thunder whooshed crossed the sky, rumbling loudly with flashes and light, like the sky was filled with endless anger, then like every dramatic tragic scene, it began to pour.
The sky wept heavily, shooting down heavy droplets that soon drenched my almost lifeless body, tied to a stake, patiently waiting for my fate. My vision blurred, my level of sensitivity had dropped to zero, but if there was one thing I felt so close to me, too close I could hear it whispering in my ear....was my end.
"Release him, and take him to the trunk! "
The ruler announced. I didn't hear a word he said, but I could hear the faint cheers and chatters of the villagers, then a group of guards come and proceed to aggressively untie me.
I drop to the ground, now muddy from all the heavy rain. I could feel the poison kick in even harder, and my life was already slipping away. I felt every blood vessel in my body burst and scream in agony, and pain that I never thought I'd feel in such along time. I actually remembered what it felt like today.
And it hurt even more trying to adjust to the fact that the person whom I trusted is the person who is causing me all this pain. The person whom I sacrificed my freedom for. The person whom I sacrificed my integrity and....everything.
He just turned into Judas and betrayed me while he enjoys the light of day.
I pull back my tears, as hard as I could. What was the need to cry? Just what? Weren't you warned? Weren't you alarmed? You chose to trust your own groundless wisdom, and here you are.
Helplessly suffering from the hands of your own people. For something you knew nothing about.
Shame. Shame. Shame! Shame on you!
The guards pulled me up, and dragged me on my toes to the trunk, the tree depicted as death, that was cut down for containing a death entity and considered unclean. Is now used as a chopping board for the heads of all rebellious people.
Thunder roared across the sky again, with a very blinding flash of lightning, as the guards pulled the chains with all their might with loud grunts in every pull.
The iron gate finally rolled open, and the guards quickly disperse far away, while waiting in fear, for what was to come.
The crowd also went silent, and for once, it was only the splattering rain that was heard, and the smell of death lingered in the air.
"L-Let the beast be released. "
The emperor announced, with a noticeably frightened tone. But soon enough, my ears were surprisingly welcomed with the clanging of heavy chains, followedby a heavy breath that seemed to carry the rain away.
"If death is what ye wants, then ye shall find. If it aligned not with thine's heart, then ye findeth not death."
These words echoed in the darkness for a moment longer, seemingly touching everyone, right in their core.
I was rather trying to stay alive, even if I had to die a painful death due to my own inability to listen. It was worth it.
In a flash, a shadow was right behind me. I gently placed my head on the stomp, and waited for my despair.
All knights should stand proud, that they had such a beautiful world in their hands to protect. It is totally worth the sacrifice. But don't fall like me. Please, even at your worst or peak moment. Don't ever let pride take away that bond, don't get filled by friends who never get enough out of you, and even if you offer to throw yourself down a cliff for them, they'd never consider it.
They never have enough. They make your worthlessness so obvious, yet you blindly trust them and let them suck you dry.
You ignore the true voices that really care about you.
"Roshan, you should listen to me. Ebis is not a good friend. He is practically the definition of Abyss. He'll lead you to your grave one day."
"I don't want to listen to your words anymore. Don't tell me what to do."
And now! What? I just wish I could listen to you one last time, Celine. And even if I manage to survive this horrible death, I'll never get that same chance to see you ever again.
I was such a selfish and stupid little brother. A big one. I was so caught up with someone meaningless that I forgot who was there for me through and through. I caused you your own death. I caused it. I've only come to realise now, and I wish I could turn back. But, if I see you, how will I approach you?
How will I even speak to you, looking straight into your eyes with all this guilt?
At this point, I only deserve to die! Just take me away so I can suffer my eternal punishment!
*Deep gasp*
My eyes slowly opened, and my blurry eyes peaked through my wet long black hair that covered my face.
I was puzzled. I looked to my left, then to my right. Nothing had changed, and the rain still poured heavily. The only change was the look in everyone's eyes. They looked shocked, and frightened at the same time, and graveyard silence swept across the terrain in a flash.
I was also confused. What happened? Aren't I supposed to be dead? Why am I still alive?
I look over to my behind, trying to see what had happened. I was immediately met with a dark faceless shadow, heavy chains clanging to its hands held up high as it suspended its sword in a pose to kill.
My dead eyes slowly widened, as I watched it lower its sword, and gently lay it on the ground. It rose again, and this time looking down at me with its gazeless eyes, and then it's deep voice echoed in my ears.
"Thou seeketh death for that which ye committed. Though thine's heart seeketh death, I dare not disrupt thy purpose in accordance to a mortal agreement. For thee haseth a path to follow. "
My ears stood in anticipation, but I couldn't understand what was being said, I was.....dying.
"Pay attention, for my words commeth from the highest in command. Thou has been entrusted the banner of leadership, for thy people. And this must reach full accomplishment before the flour of the desert pours dry."
"What...are you talking about?"
It doesn't reply. Rather, it picks up its sword, and floats away from me, placing itself in the middle of the grounds. No one move. No one flinched. Just total tension filled the air in within seconds.
It then suddenly raised its sword, high into the air, as if aiming with a hunting spear, pulled back, and then fired it. It travelled with incredible speed, cutting through the air and rain like it owned the sky, but my wife and confused eyes turned to that of shock and fear, when I realised whom it hit.
My heart pounced, and my head throbbed. What were my eyes seeing? I tried to reach or call out, but .....
*Lub-dub *
The poison kicked in, and I died.
*********
*West FAN KAI. *
"Hm....Hm"
The afternoon was a bit hot per usual in the western FAN KAI region, but the place never stopped buzzing with its busy noises. The nice warm smell of soup and grilled cow filled the air coming from old Mu King's hawking wheels. Customers swarmed her as she kindly served each person while exchanging coz words to ease the mood. The cozier the better.
It all hops to the little pharmacy upstairs Mr. Lang's building. The doors were firmly shut, but the windows left slightly open to let in some fresh air. A young lady with a pink and white lace long gown, was sitted beside a young young man on the woven bed. She was blindfolded, and had long black hair that cascaded down her back in smooth waves, having a small and slender figure, with milk white skin and pink glossy lips.
She professionally grinds the herbs with a small size mortar and pistol, and administered them on the young man.
She checks his pulse and heartbeat, then goes to her table to do a few things.
He twitches.