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Chapter 7 - Vows of the Damned

King Argus is standing at the door of that child's house. That child goes to him and asks him to come inside. The King looks at that child's house which is old and has spider webs in many places. King Argus asks the child his name. He tells his name as Marcus. The King asks Marcus—How old are you? Marcus tells his age as 11 years. The King says to that child—Where is your mother, my child? That child says—She is serving father in Heaven, now no one lives here except me. Tears fill the King's eyes. King Argus says to that child—Today is your birthday, isn't it? Marcus says—Yes my Lord. The King says that you had asked your father for a cake and a toy too, I have brought something for you. The King brings a cake and some clothes and a small wooden Ballista for that child. The child becomes very happy seeing it.

​King Argus celebrates the birthday with that child. The King says to that child that from now on never consider yourself alone, whenever you need me come to me and from today a Knight will bring food for you from the Castle every morning and evening, until you turn 20 years old, okay? And the King stays with that child until late at night and then the King, after putting the child to sleep, returns to his Castle. When that child wakes up in the morning, he sees there is no one with him, just the gifts given by the King at night are kept there. By 10 in the morning, a Knight comes to that child and gives that child many kinds of sweets, fruits, and meat to eat.

​The scene shifts towards General Valerius whose hands are bandaged and Commander Seraphina is standing next to him. He can now see better than before. Valerius asks King Argus—My Lord why are you so troubled, what happened? King Argus says to him—Nothing happened General, I am thinking that you should rest today and also keep the training of new Knights closed today. General Valerius and Commander Seraphina leave from there. It becomes night, the King is looking out from his Castle. Outside he can see the light of torches everywhere, just then Queen Isabella arrives there. She asks the King—My King after all what happened to you today? Since this morning you seem lost somewhere, I have never seen you like this before. The King says to the Queen—My dear, I am not feeling good about whatever is happening these days, there is a restlessness. Then the Queen asks—What happened? Since you have come after killing that Demon, you are looking very troubled. The King tells the Queen all the things that the Demon had said to King Argus. The Queen laughs and says—My dear, all this was nonsense of that Demon, you don't think about this. And then the Queen takes off her clothes, then the King and Queen get lost in the intoxications of the night.

​The next morning arrives, the King's daily work started running as before and Daker also gets added to the Queen's responsibilities. Slowly time passes and 15 years go by. Daker grows up, he is now 15 years old and he stays with the Queen. So far no one has told him anything about his past life, he considers the Queen and King to be his parents. Then that Demon's curse slowly starts showing its effect. The Queen falls ill, her beautiful face starts rotting. Seeing her, the King starts remembering the Demon's words which he had said to the King. Slowly the Queen's condition becomes worse and like this 2 more years pass.

​Now Daker has become 17 years old and now that time has come when he will be taught to fight. On Daker turning 17, he is trained to become a Warrior. Knights teach him to fight and every day he comes back defeated and every night he tells his mother Queen Isabella about his day. Every day whatever mistakes he makes and whatever good works he does, he tells all that to Queen Isabella. In this way one more year passes and after one year of training Daker becomes quite powerful. Then he has to fight the Commander. The Commander defeats him. He fights the Commander every day and loses every day.

​One day at night time Daker goes to the Queen. He says to the Queen—Mother when will you get well? I want to go for a walk with you. Do you remember how much you used to take me for walks in the gardens in childhood? You used to tell me stories until late at night. I want to live that life again mother. The Queen does not speak much but she loves Daker very much, because of this the Queen has to answer Daker's talk. The Queen says to Daker—My child what happened why are you talking to me like this today? Daker says—Father mother, now father is not like before. He beats me a lot in training now and doesn't talk to me like before. I miss you a lot mother. The Queen says—I also miss you a lot my child when you are not near me, when you are near me then I feel very good, the heart gets peace. And as for your father, he will also get well. He loves you very much son, perhaps he remains angry with you regarding your training. You work very hard every day still you cannot defeat the Commander, perhaps because of this. You do something such that your father becomes happy with you, you defeat the Commander. Daker says—Okay mother.

​He starts to leave from there just then the Queen catches his hand and catching his hand says—Daker, nothing is ever gained in life by killing someone, always remember this thing. Daker smiles hearing this and leaves from there. The next day in the fighting ground, the Commander and Daker come face to face. The Commander seeing Daker thinks—If I defeat Daker even today then the King will beat Daker again. Thinking this the Commander feels pity for Daker and she loses to him to save Daker from the King. And seeing this Daker becomes very happy that he defeated the Commander. But the King knows very well that the Commander has lost to him intentionally. The King, sitting above, is watching this and he leaves from there with a Devil smile.

​Daker goes to the Queen at night and tells her—Mother I defeated the Commander. Hearing this the Queen is happy but she also finds out that the Commander has lost to him intentionally, but she doesn't tell this thing to Daker and expresses her happiness in his happiness. The Queen says to Daker—I knew you would do it, after all whose son are you. The next day again Daker fights the Commander and this time again the Commander loses intentionally. By defeating the Commander, a different stature of Daker is formed among the Knights. All Knights are happy and celebrate. They drink, dance, sing and have fun until late at night. For a few more days it goes on like this.

​Then one day the Commander fights Daker seriously but this time Daker really defeats the Commander. And the Commander is shocked seeing this. The Commander thinks—How, after all how can that child defeat me? The Commander is also happy and surprised. And the King is watching this. The King finds out that this time Commander Seraphina has actually lost. Tonight Daker does not go to his mother, he goes to a Church. There he meets a Priest. Daker says to the Priest—I have to pray for my mother. And the Church's Priest says yes to him for this and starts lighting candles. That night Daker stays in the Church itself.

​That same night King Argus goes to Queen Isabella. The King sits near the Queen. The Queen says—My Lord I have heard that Daker defeated the Commander, what a matter of happiness it is, isn't it? The King says—I don't want to talk about this, I am only thinking about that Demon who cursed me 18 years ago. The Queen says surprised—Are you still thinking about that Demon? The King says to the Queen—Isabella that Demon was telling the truth, the curse he gave me has started appearing to me. You have been here for a long time so you don't know but let me tell you that our kingdom is ending. Famine has come everywhere. Where once green fields used to be here, today nothing is left, all the land has dried up. People have resorted to thefts. I have found out from my spies that some people are even talking about leaving the Kingdom and all this is happening because of my mistake. The Queen says—There is no mistake of yours in this. The King shouts at the Queen—No, it is our mistake. If we had not taken revenge for that wretched woman that day and if you had not saved that child by doing her surgery, then it would have been right. We should not have done that at all, that boy should also have died with his mother.

​The Queen says—Daker loves you very much. The King says—No, whether he loves me or not it makes no difference to me. Anyway he is not my real son. He is getting much happiness from defeating the Commander, isn't he? And the Commander also supported him. Soon the Commander will also find out when she sees that her foolishness will prove to be a message of death for that boy. Tomorrow itself he will be made to fight in the Arena Ground. The Queen starts crying. The Queen says to the King—My Lord I love Daker very much, don't do anything to him. If you love me then promise me that you will not kill Daker. The King agrees to the Queen's talk. He says to the Queen—If Daker loses in the tournament to be held after 3 days then I will not kill him but I will leave him to his fate. And saying this he leaves from there.

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