For the King of Judgement
Today's operation had been a resounding success, even if they hadn't yet managed to breach the mine itself.
Now, the core leadership was gathered in the war room. Zachary, Adreana, Orwella, Renalla, Stark, and Naraya surrounded the central table. Alexei and Matthew were also present, having stubbornly insisted on joining the council.
"The flames of rebellion now burn bright," Adreana declared, her voice ringing with conviction. "The people of Roake, who once cowered in fear, now stand united against the Eclipse's tyranny!" She met the eyes of everyone in the room. "The time has come to end their reign of terror."
Alexei twirled his axes eagerly with a grin on his face. "I'll take point! Their swords will taste the might of the Silver Wolf's brutebear!"
"I will do my utmost to assist," Matthew added. He bowed slightly, resting a hand over his heart like a cultured gentleman, a contrast to Alexei's brutish demeanor. Though, judging by his frequent glances, he was likely just trying to impress Naraya who stood directly across from him.
"A Knight's sworn duty demands we rescue those who suffer," Orwella affirmed, resting her hand steadily on the hilt of her sword. "By the honor of the Avalon Knights, we shall see justice done."
"From what I understand, the Eclipse's headquarters is a complex network of countless tunnels," Renalla noted, tracing a finger over the incomplete map spread across the table. "We've only been able to push as far as the Deep Sanctum, but their actual command center is located in a completely separate area."
"A hasty attack in the dark means needless deaths," Naraya chimed in, her brow furrowed with worry.
"If that's the case, I'll scout the area immediately." Orwella stepped forward, but Zachary raised a hand to stop her.
"With all due respect, you don't have to," Zachary said firmly. "You don't know these lands. It's far too risky."
"I know. But we cannot afford to lose this vital battle," she insisted.
Alexei stepped up beside her. "I'll go with you. At least one of us must return with the intel."
"I shall volunteer as well," Matthew added.
Zachary paused, his mind trying to calculate the risks versus the rewards. The idea of losing his most valuable officers was terrifying. But before he could reluctantly agree, a familiar voice drifted in from the entrance of the war room.
"Castalia's call really has gathered remarkable strength."
Adeline and Asep strolled into the room. In Adeline's hand was a folded piece of parchment.
"Rest assured, the problem is already solved," she said with a tired but triumphant smile.
"Yeah, with this, we can launch our next attack without flying blind," Asep added, leaning casually against the doorframe.
"Asep... Adeline..." Adreana's face lit up.
Adeline walked to the table and spread the parchment over their outdated map. "Look here, everyone."
Zachary leaned closer, his eyes widening in shock. "What... is this?"
"The layout of the Eclipse's headquarters," Asep answered. "It's a map detailing all their hidden supply caches, secret routes, defense mechanisms, and the Thrall farms."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Everyone was stunned. This map was the absolute key to their victory.
"Where on earth did you find this?" Zachary asked, disbelief coloring his tone.
"It was given to us," Adeline glancing at Asep. "By Estella."
"And thanks to your earlier decision, we can confirm this is the real deal," Asep said, nodding toward Zachary.
"My decision? You mean... the Eclipse's followers?"
"Correct. The fact that you spared them, gave them a choice when no one else ever would... it made them willingly confess every trap they had laid out," Adeline explained softly. "The information Estella gave us perfectly matches their intel."
Zachary fell silent, a profound mix of relief and satisfaction washing over him. His gamble, his stubborn insistence on showing mercy, it had paid off in a way he hadn't fully anticipated.
"The Eclipse's followers... they were our bitter enemies until just recently," Naraya murmured, amazed.
"To free lost souls from the darkness... That, too, fulfills the Radiant's purpose," Renalla said softly, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
Orwella looked at Zachary, immense respect shining in her eyes. "To spare and forgive a sworn enemy is a noble act I cannot match. Your actions have indeed saved countless lives today."
"Asep's plan led us to this point. His idea to spare the followers paved the way." Zachary deflected the praise, shifting the room's attention to Asep who was still slouching by the wall.
"Yeah, whatever," Asep smirked, gesturing vaguely at the table. "Now that we have the intel, let this be your guide to victory."
"We stand ready!" Alexei shouted, pumping an axe into the air. "We'll teach those cultists a lesson they won't live to forget!"
"The path is clear!" Zachary declared, his voice echoing with authority. "We know the way to the heart of the Eclipse! Prepare for the final assault!"
"Yeah!"
A unified cheer erupted around the table, their voices soaring with determination and hope.
___
Asep and Adeline finally slipped away from the war room, stepping out into the cool embrace of the night.
Roake was slowly transforming from a nightmarish hellhole into something resembling actual civilization. The warm glow of lantern light spilling from the houses and the distant sound of residents laughing made the settlement feel remarkably alive.
"Hey, slow down," Asep said, his voice laced with uncharacteristic concern as Adeline stumbled over a loose stone. He caught her by the arm, steadying her. "You okay?"
Adeline blinked, taking a moment to regain her balance. Under the pale moonlight, the sheer exhaustion etched into her features was stark. Dark circles bruised the skin beneath her eyes, and her shoulders slumped as if gravity had doubled its pull on her alone.
"I'm... fine," she murmured, though her voice lacked its usual commanding conviction. "Just... a long day. A long week. A long month, actually."
"Tell me about it," Asep snorted, releasing her arm but staying close. "Between playing assassin, fighting crystal zombies, and dealing with Zachary's 'inspirational speeches,' I'm ready to sleep for a year."
Adeline chuckled softly, a sound equal parts amused and exhausted. "He does have a way with words, doesn't he?"
"Yeah. Guy talks like he's rehearsing for a stage play. 'The flames of rebellion,' 'the dawn of liberation'... It's exhausting just listening to him."
They walked in a comfortable silence for a while, the only sound the crunch of their boots on the gravel path leading toward the residential area where she had claimed a modest home for herself and a few refugees.
"Thank you, by the way," Adeline said suddenly, breaking the quiet.
Asep glanced at her and raising an eyebrow. "For what? Catching you back there? Standard mercenary service. First catch is free, next one costs you a copper."
"Not that," she said, shaking her head as a faint smile touched her lips. "For... everything. For coming back. For the map. For saving us when we were starving. For fighting for people you don't even know."
Asep stiffened slightly, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. He looked away, focusing intently on a flickering lantern in the distance.
"Don't read too much into it," he muttered dismissively. "I told you before. I'm in it for the coin. Zachary pays well. Plus, the tobacco shortage was getting annoying. Can't exactly enjoy a smoke if the whole country is on fire, can I?"
"Is that really all it is?" Adeline asked softly. She stopped walking and turned to face him. Her warm brown eyes searched his face, seeing right past his deflection, past the cynical mask he wore like a suit of armor. "Just money and tobacco?"
He wanted to say yes. It was so much easier to say yes. But looking at her; so worn down and fragile, yet standing so incredibly strong, the lie felt like lead on his tongue.
"You're stubborn, you know that?" He sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "Fine. Maybe... maybe it's not just that. But let's not get all sentimental. I'm not a hero material, Adeline. Just a guy doing a job."
"You don't have to be a hero to be a good man, Asep," she said quietly.
The words hung in the crisp air between them, simple yet profound. Asep didn't have a witty retort for that. He just shrugged, and an unfamiliar tightness blooming in his chest. It felt strange, somehow.
They continued walking until they reached the modest structure Adeline was using as her quarters. It was little more than a refurbished miner's shack, but it was sturdy, and warm light spilled welcomingly from the windows.
Adeline stopped at the door but didn't go in. She leaned heavily against the wooden frame, her legs seemingly refusing to take another step.
"Hey," Asep said as he noticed her sway. "You sure you're gonna make it inside, or do I need to carry you like a sack of potatoes?"
Adeline let out a breathless laugh, closing her eyes for a moment. "I think... I might need a minute. The adrenaline is finally wearing off, and now..." She gestured vaguely at her trembling legs.
Asep sighed and stepped closer. "Here." He offered his arm—not in the courtly, polished manner Zachary would have, but with a practical sturdiness.
Adeline looked at his arm, then up at his face. For a brief second, a flicker of uncertainty crossed her expression. Then, letting out a soft sigh of surrender, she smiled. "Thanks."
She took his arm, leaning much of her weight onto him as they navigated into the small living area. It was sparse but meticulously clean. Adeline practically wilted onto the worn long wooden bench that served as a sofa, letting out a heavy groan of relief as she sank into it.
Asep stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, feeling like a trespasser in this intimate space of rest. "Right. Well. You're inside. Safe and sound. I should probably get back to—"
"Asep?"
He paused, his hand hovering halfway to the door handle. "Yeah?"
"Is it... okay if I ask for one more favor?" Her voice was small, barely a whisper.
He turned around. Adeline was looking at him with heavy, sleep-laden eyes, filled with a quiet, desperate need for comfort. She patted the empty space beside her on the bench.
"Can I just... borrow your shoulder? Just for a bit?"
Asep blinked. His first instinct was to make a sarcastic joke, to deflect, to run. Whatever this was, this vulnerability, this closeness, it wasn't in his job description. This was dangerous territory.
But seeing her sitting there, looking so small and completely drained, the refusal died in his throat.
"You're really pushing your luck with the mercenary rates today," he grumbled. Still, he walked over and sat down beside her, making sure to leave a respectful few inches of space between them.
Adeline didn't bridge the gap immediately. She just sat there for a moment, breathing in the comfortable silence. Then, slowly, tentatively, she leaned to the side. Her head came to rest softly on his shoulder.
Asep tensed instantly, his muscles going completely rigid. He could smell her scent, something like a mixture of sawdust and something floral, probably her shampoo. He wasn't used to this. Violence? Sure. Sarcasm? That was his native tongue. But gentle intimacy like this? It was entirely alien for his virgin heart.
"Relax," Adeline murmured sleepily, sensing his tension. "I don't bite."
"Could've fooled me," Asep muttered, but he forced his shoulders to drop, slowly relaxing into the contact.
They sat like that for a long while. The fireplace crackled softly in the corner, casting dancing orange shadows against the walls. The weight of her head on his shoulder felt strangely grounding, like a tether to something real and warm in this chaotic world.
"Asep..." she whispered, her voice thick with impending sleep.
"Yeah?"
"Why... did you save me? Back at the warehouse."
Asep stared into the fire, memories of that brutal day flashing behind his eyes. The desperation. The rage he had felt seeing her cornered. The horrific sight of the dead infant.
"Told you... Didn't want to lose my pay."
"Liar,"
"Yeah. Well." He shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable without disturbing her. "Maybe I just didn't want to see another grave. I've seen enough... of those for one lifetime."
Adeline didn't respond. Her breathing had evened out into a slow, rhythmic cadence. Asep glanced down. She was fast asleep, her face finally relaxed, the deep lines of worry smoothed away by the embrace of dreams. She looked incredibly peaceful.
For a long moment, Asep just watched her. A strange pang echoed in his chest, a potent mix of fierce protectiveness and a deep, aching loneliness he usually managed to suppress. He remembered the life he thought he'd have back home. And now, looking at Adeline, he dared to wonder if he could build a new one here. With her.
But he quickly shoved the thought away. Don't get ahead of yourself, stupid. You're a mercenary. She's a leader. Different worlds.
He sighed quietly. "You're heavy, you know that?" he whispered to the sleeping woman, though there was zero bite to his words.
He couldn't stay sitting like this all night. Shifting carefully so as not to wake her, Asep slid one arm under her knees and the other behind her back. With a gentle heave, he lifted her off the bench. She stirred slightly, murmuring something unintelligible as she nuzzled instinctively into his chest, but she didn't wake.
She felt surprisingly light in his arms. Like a fragile thing.
He carried her to the small bedroom adjoining the living area. It was modest; just a simple bed and a small chest of drawers. He lowered her onto the mattress with a gentleness that would have shocked anyone who had seen him beat a man to death on the battlefield.
He pulled the heavy quilt over her, tucking it securely around her shoulders. She sighed happily in her sleep, burying her face into the pillow.
Asep stood by the bed for a moment, hands shoved deep into his pockets, just watching her sleep.
"Rest up, 'Leader'," he whispered, a faint warm smile touching his lips. "Tomorrow's gonna be another long day."
He turned and walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind him. As he stepped out of the quiet warmth and back into the cold night air, his heart felt a little fuller, yet somehow a little heavier than before.
___
The war room was quiet, save for the crackling of the hearth. Most of the commanders had filtered out, leaving Zachary and Adreana alone to stare at the map of Roake, now marked with the symbols of their hard-fought, tenuous victory. The relief in the room was palpable, but so was the exhaustion.
"We did well," Adreana murmured, tracing the drawn line of the liberated East District. "But it feels... incomplete."
"The job is never truly done, Adreana," Zachary replied, pouring two goblets of water. "But for tonight, we've bought ourselves time."
Just as Adreana reached for her goblet, the heavy oak doors swung open with a resounding *BANG*.
"Hahaha! Sorry for the interruption, lovebirds!"
Cal strode into the room, his massive frame filling the entire doorway. In one hand, he effortlessly balanced a massive wooden crate filled with an assortment of pastries, and in the other, he carried a small cask of what smelled suspiciously like the expensive vintage from Zachary's private stash.
"Cal," Zachary sighed, though a smile tugged at his lips. "I assume you didn't steal that from the quartermaster?"
"Steal? I liberated it!" Cal boomed with laughter, setting the crate down on the map table with a *thump* that made the tactical markers jump. "Besides, I brought sweets from the traveling merchant. Honey cakes, glazed nuts... figured we needed something to celebrate properly!"
He uncorked the cask with his teeth, spat the cork into the corner of the room, and began filling two empty tankards he'd apparently conjured from thin air.
"To victory!" Cal bellowed, shoving a sloshing tankard into Zachary's hand and sliding another toward Adreana.
"To victory," Adreana echoed, taking a cautious sip. The wine was incredibly rich and floral. *Lotus Wine.* Definitely Zachary's reserve.
"So," Cal said, leaning back against the table and crossing his muscular arms. His jovial demeanor suddenly shifted, growing slightly serious. "I came to bid my farewells."
Zachary paused mid-sip. "Leaving? Now? The city isn't fully secure, Cal. We could use your tremendous strength for the final push into the headquarters."
"Nah," Cal shook his head, nonchalantly popping a sugared almond into his mouth. "I've seen enough here. Met enough interesting people."
"It's a pity," Zachary murmured, swirling his wine thoughtfully. "A warrior of your caliber is worth a hundred men. We'd have swept those mines clean by now if you'd just stayed a little longer."
"Ha! You flatter me!" Cal smirked, and a sudden dangerous glint flashing in his eyes. "But you're doing just fine without me. You've made Roake a whole new place. I saw exactly what I came to see. That's what matters."
He leaned forward slightly. "With the support of everyone here, Castalia will soon grow immensely strong. But your aim... it's not just Roake, is it?"
Adreana looked at Zachary, then swallowed hard. "Ardenia has many deep-rooted problems. The Eclipse is just the beginning. The famine. The corruption. The old mines. The monsters. All of it."
"Indeed," Zachary said, his gaze sharpening into a glare of sheer determination. "We will fight on if needed. We won't stop here."
Cal's smile broadened, but his eyes were as hard and unyielding as steel. "You know, the next enemy you face won't be some crazed cult or mindless monsters. It will be the Giants. The Holy Empire. The varying clans of the Varyag. And us—the Albion."
Adreana's eyes widened slightly. *Us?*
"Will you fight against them?" Cal asked, his voice dropping low, thrumming with dangerous power.
Before Zachary could even formulate an answer, the door swung open again.
"My Liege!"
A woman strode in, clad in the sleek, dark leather armor of an elite Albion Ranger. She was tall, with flowing silver hair and piercing icy blue eyes. Adreana's breath hitched. She recognized her immediately—Nadia, the infamous 'Raven of the West'.
"Nadia?!" Adreana gasped.
The legendary Ranger ignored Adreana entirely. Instead, she dropped smoothly to one knee before Cal, her bow lowered in absolute submission.
"Knight King Gawain," Nadia said, her voice dripping with reverence. "I apologize for my lateness. The roads were... treacherous."
"Nadia, you're ruining the surprise!" Cal laughed, waving a dismissive hand.
But as he spoke, the jovial, loudmouthed tavern brute vanished. In his place stood a King. His posture straightened, and suddenly, the sheer aura radiating from him was utterly overwhelming, suffocating the room with its pressure.
"Gawain?!" Zachary almost dropped his expensive wine glass.
"The King of Judgement..." Adreana whispered, the color draining from her face. This man standing before them, casually eating honey cakes and chugging stolen wine, was one of the most terrifyingly powerful political and military figures on the entire continent.
"Busted." Cal sighed dramatically, scratching his scruffy beard. "Ah well. I suppose the jig is up."
"I am Camelot Palla Leonhart. I command the Noble Order of the Lionhearted Knights. Some call me Knight King Gawain the Third, or the King of Judgement..." Camelot spread his arms wide, the tankard of wine still casually clutched in his massive hand.
Zachary stared, his mind racing at a million miles an hour. One of the Three Great Knight Kings. A man who sat on the highest Council of Knights. A commander who could mobilize armies that made Ardenia's entire national force look like a poorly trained militia.
Why is he here? And... why was he fighting alongside us as a common mercenary?
Camelot raised his mug of Lotus Wine.
"But enough titles and enough politics for now. The Lotus wine is still good, and the night is young!" He grinned, his eyes twinkling with mirth once more. "Come! Let's just drink and celebrate our victory!" He turned to the kneeling Ranger. "Nadia, drink up! Albion's brews are nothing compared to this stuff!"
Zachary looked at Adreana, who looked just as shell-shocked as he felt, then back at Camelot. Utterly speechless and his mind reeling from the revelation, Zachary slowly raised his own mug.
"Well... to the King of Judgement, then," Zachary said, taking a deep gulp of the wine.
"Aye! To everything!" Camelot roared, happily chugging his drink.
But behind the laughter and the sweet taste of the wine, Zachary knew one thing for absolute certain.
The war... has just gotten a hell of a lot more complicated.
After they finished their drinks, Nadia stepped back and knelt once more. "My Liege, we really must go."
Gawain nodded. But before taking a step toward the door, he turned back to Zachary and Adreana.
"Let me ask you once more," he said, his tone dead serious. "Your next opponents won't be the simple-minded fools of a local cult. You'll be facing the most formidable factions on the continent—the Papal States, the Holy Empire, the Varyags, the Undying Empire... Or someday, perhaps even the Albion Empire itself. So I want to know... Will you take on the fight against them, too?"
Adreana was silent for a fleeting moment, but the fires of determination burned brightly in her eyes.
"We stand united for peace and hope," she answered without wavering. "Who our enemies are makes no difference to us. Whether it's the Eclipse cult, or the mighty Albion itself."
"We will stand, and we will fight," Zachary added firmly.
"Heh." Gawain flashing them a thumbs up. "As a warrior, I respect such resolve."
He turned away from them and headed for the door. But before crossing the threshold, he glanced over his broad shoulder.
"I came here to solve Ardenia's troubles. Soon, all the major parties will meet at my invitation. The Castalia Mercenary Company has just earned its place at that table."
With that final bombshell, both Nadia and Gawain walked out of the room, leaving Roake behind to return to Merlesia, where they would await Castalia at the upcoming peace talks.
___
The next morning, the sun broke over Roake, casting a golden hue over the recovering city. Zachary stood in the courtyard, recounting the surreal events of the previous night to Sylvanne and Orwella.
"So, that loudmouth warrior was actually Gawain, the King of Judgement of the Albion Empire..." Sylvanne murmured, her eyes wide with sheer fascination. "I knew he wasn't an ordinary fighter, but I never expected someone of such unimaginable importance." She straightened her posture, looking thoughtful. "As a plenipotentiary, he holds the power to decide an entire country's future..."
"Among the leaders of the knight orders, King of Judgement Gawain is the most prestigious," Orwella said, her tone laced with awe. "I firmly believe he will make a fair judgement after seeing Ardenia's true situation. But for now..." She gripped her hilt. "Let's focus on what we can control. We must defeat the Eclipse together."
"You're right," Zachary sighed, the familiar heavy weight of command settling comfortably back onto his shoulders. He looked toward the distant mountains where the mines lay hidden. "Let's end the Eclipse once and for all."