Magical Boys Lost on Earth

Kreg kingdom

I have to say that for the main character, I didn't have that many appearances so far.

I suppose my activities didn't worth reporting, especially with the war going on simultaneously.

Furthermore, I admit that I enjoyed the months of peace and being able to sleep knowing that I am not being observed.

But the war is over, and it's time to collect the rewards.

Where I am?

Good question.

The only statement I can make is that it is dark, very dark.

Four days ago, I'm sure I was in the real winter cabin with Rômulo.

It was also exactly four days ago that Castile finally managed to fully penetrate Kreg's territory. They captured all the important nobles, that includes me.

The rest of the days consisted of being imprisoned in the roughest, coldest, trembling, and dirty carriage I have ever been in!

At least we were entitled to three hot meals a day and water at our disposal.

A critical point that I cannot forget to mention is that Rômulo was not there.

As a citizen and nobleman of Castela, I am almost convinced that he received much better treatment. I just can't say that I know completely because the right to see was revoked from me, I am blindfolded.

It was a relief to be taken out of that filthy and shaky place.

Even though the two soldiers who held each one in my hands all the way were unnecessary. Believe me, I tried to make them understand that I can walk alone, but the only thing that happened was that they hold my hands tighter.

I was dragged here and there, back and forth, up and downstairs.

The capital is a maze.

By the time the cloth was finally removed from my eyes, I was already in my newest room. A cell.

Luckily for me, cells have no windows. Consequently, there is no sun to burn me.

To my bad luck, it was a single room. It had a cheap bed, a latrine, a sink, and a candle. At least the door was not open iron grid, but solid wood. At least it was clean and the food was… great.

All I could do was sleep and pray that they wouldn't keep me for more than a few days. I'm sure I wouldn't be able to stand there for another hour.

And now dear friends? A few moments ago, I was relocated. That means to my relief and despair, I was blinded again and dragged by the two soldiers who were holding my hands.

Currently, as I told you before, I don't know where I am.

All I can say is that it is dark and large, I could hear my steps echoing when I entered here.

What am I doing here? I also don't know, currently, waiting. I am probably at the royal court, it was time to receive my judgment.

After about three minutes (of which I used to tell you the news) standing like a fool, the lights come on.

Now I have a notion of how big this place is.

A dozen lamps were scattered around the corners of the room, yet they were not enough to light up the entire room. 

I was right, it's the court. I am currently in the middle of the room. On my left and front right are chairs where the councilors and nobles are seated. Armed guards are also stationed here and there. It was so crowded that even with the lack of light and a deteriorated vision like mine, you could still see the silhouettes of the nobles in the stands and hear their whispers.

— Forward.— Order a strict and thick voice.

Forcing my eyes a little I can recognize a type of altar a few steps ahead of me.

The nobles are silent as I move into the center of the room.

Now in front of me, at the top of the brightest room was a figure dressed in the colors of the Castela flag and with his golden curls recognizable as the owner of the authoritarian voice. The tiara among the mane of blond hair represented him as a knight king and ruler of those lands.

This same figure got up from his chair and went to the edge of the stands before saying looking into his eyes:

— Accused of conspiring against our homeland and of suspecting various other crimes such as bribery and impersonation, in addition to being a war-prisoner. Even so, with the authority that has been conferred on me. I propose that the accused explain all his actions taken in the last 2 years, only then do we consider him guilty and start the trial. The accused will have a total of one hour to try to convince us that he has taken the right actions. From now on, the accused has the right to speak, please start with the month before the start of the war.

Well, I think this is my turn.

— I am honored with such benevolence on the part of your majesty. I thank all of you very much for the opportunity to speak. Unfortunately, there is not much to tell about the month before the war.

—That is exactly what proves that you are not to be trusted! We have proof of your activities during these months!— A female voice interrupted me. Wait, female? So, are women allowed in the court of Castile? Interesting. The whispers rise among the nobles.

—Why do I never look convincing enough? Is my child's voice added to the complex words I articulate? Because, against this, I can't do anything! It is a bad habit coming from reading a lot.— I refute somewhat offended.

—I said he has the right to speak. — Said the king again. His words silence the crowd. He turns to me and I continue to speak.

— If you are so interested I can give you more details, but these will not be useful. I was starting my “practical learning journey”, for personal reasons and as one of my many obligations as a young nobleman. I was traveling from metropolis to village looking for good libraries. For my studies, I was collecting information about the miserable lifestyle of my hateful homeland. I can also describe well what I saw in the fields. Many of the villagers no longer cared about what was said about politics. They were too busy trying to survive in the icy fields that winter. For this reason, there was no major commotion when the recruiting order reached his ears.

As an opponent of Kreg's model of government, I can say with certainty.

This was something already expected by many and as far as my knowledge goes it was something desired.

The only commoners that the nobility cared about feeding were the soldiers!

In the third week, I noticed a new reason behind the commotion in the periphery.

News that made even the most grumpy of farmers keep their mouths open.

The merchants had hired enough foreign mercenaries for a coup d'état. 

False rumors, obviously, in times of despair, people get attached to anything. —

—And do you know who originated these rumors? Some blame you, even if it means you were our secret ally. — This time it was the king himself who interrupted me. It was a test, so good that I gained some experience with Kreg's court.

—Not your majesty, no one in Kreg is sure when or where the rumor started. Even the soldiers were ready to switch sides as soon as the coup started.

Cooks thought of poisoning the lords' food.

Joiners would loosen the screws on their carts.

It was a real revolt, and you can ask them, and they will tell you, the whole state was a time bomb.

Like this had the month ended. All hoping that the lords would have their sights on Castela to stab them in the back.

—Very well, your actions do not seem suspicious, and they also match our information. But I must argue that all the charges against you are pointing to the second month of the war. What do you have to say about your activities then? — The king's voice seemed more gentle now that he saw that I do not have the intention of omitting any facts, but also more careful with his words.

 — I will not deny any of the accusations, I know you have enough evidence to incriminate me. But I swear that the idea of impersonation and the other crimes listed was not mine. Came from one of yours, my dear ladies and gentlemen.

A great man, moreover. Hidden from an early age in the middle of enemy territory, risking both his life and his entire country.

I found him lost at court without moving forward or backing down his goals and already receiving suspicious glances from the old lords.

When he met me, I remember seeing a light in his eyes, he worked from that moment as my mentor and tried to contact me at every opportunity. This is not an attitude that attracts many people, I spent good months avoiding him. But one day, I decided out of pure charity to attend one of his classes. With only this small opening, he already took advantage and tried to convince me to participate in his plans.

Have you heard about the “carriage”? A mysterious pair of nobles who had somehow helped with the people's revolt against the lords.

Well, perhaps your spy's report has already reached your ears, but for those less informed. I must clarify that the carriage was one of the “steps” in my mentor Rômulo Wohger's plan.

I was used simply as bait, a mascot for the people to put their faith in. Not only that, but I tried to resist, but my size doesn't have much to do.

We went from town to town making trade deals and toasting my economic reserves to ease the extortion of the lords. As a bonus to strengthen the people's hatred against their rulers.

In the end, in addition to “lending” my treasure to my dear mentor, I had to briefly introduce myself to the people and then go back to the carriage. I had no involvement with the agreements and all the bureaucratic part. You can imagine, traveling all over the pitiful Kreg with just a single wagon without a single penny in your pocket! The money for food, clothes. Even basic hygiene was invested, without my permission! I was used, forced to work at a too early age.

With all these arguments, I would like to have the right to get my money back. — Did I went too far?

 — We will very well think about your case, but to be sure of the truth of what you say we would like to hear a summary of what happened on the battlefield. — No, It seems to be working just right. Let's just keep like that.

—If your majesty insists. Before “mission”, the war had already started for Kreg. The movement in the war was crucial for Kreg, it would balance the military forces of the two states. 

 I found out through my many rises that they were starting the war before any battle was started.

The lords ordered a temporary barrier to be built and to move it 200 meters forward every night.

After about 4 months, they had gained about 20 square kilometers more for their territory, without Castela noticing.

After another month they had half the neutral zone.

When they had already gained the advantage of the territory, black and navy-blue flags were raised on the east side and the soldiers put on their armor. The first city went up in flames.

At this point, I had only begun my slave days. But the war had officially begun and Castela began to organize its soldiers.

The lords of Kreg could not maintain their triumph for long, and they knew it.

The second attack took place in the first month of the war also on the east side, already weakened. They must attack quickly before the enemy is organized.

A counterattack was already expected in the first few months. What Kreg had not anticipated was that soldiers who were normally already strong would have twice as much strength that day.

You must remember that the king directly led the first attack on the castle. On the west flank, the opposite of expected. Instead of recovering the lost territory, Castela opted for a surprise offensive.

In exactly two weeks they broke down the provisional walls, in the next two, they got half of the western territory, at the end of that month Kreg's reinforcement arrived. The situation was tied again, containing the advance of Castela in the second month.

Until the third month, Castela seemed to be regaining the advantage lost in the beginning.

In this period I could address the borders again, but what I saw was not in the plans.

Every day, about a hundred wagons were dispatched at the ports of Kreg, which were distributed across borders.

When I arrived at the borders, they were already lined up as far as the horizon line disappears.

At the time I did not know what they were, but in the middle of the third month, they stopped delivering.

It was also in that month that Castela finally captured a post that contained one of these wagons.

That time I first recognized what were their terrifying content.

Fatefully, it was too late.

The first week of the fourth month ended the advance of Kreg's mobile borders.

It was the month of the m******e of Castela soldiers by firearms.

I repeat I don't have any connection with all this.

These were ordered from France by Kreg when the war officially began and was finally used.

A one-sided m******e, you probably still remember this time.

 —How do you know that? We have reports saying that you were still on your “learning journey”, far from any battlefield. Can you prove you really are not involved? — The female voice interrupted again. This woman has something against me, weren't they supposed to love children? This time the king continued in silence, it appears to me that I am on my own.

 —Away from the battlefield but not from the news madam. The royal winter hut where we were and stayed until the end of the war is also used as a resting place for traders and soldiers who travel from the capital to the borders, this offered us an extremely advantageous position when it comes to gathering information. Anyway, Rômulo's plan was already complete.

 If I'm not mistaken, that was when my robbed money finally showed its results. Charity of the “carriage” gave an amount of investment to all the merchants of common origin in the kingdom to charge them a “favor” later. 

Exactly two weeks later, I sent a handwritten letter to the most famous merchant in the kingdom, I'm sure they keep it with me to use as proof, but this letter only proves that I didn't buy anyone, I just asked for an exchange favor from my previous goodwill. And so, Kreg's supplies stopped being delivered to the battlefield.

But the really decisive point was when the weapons began to break apart after some shots. About this, I do not have any environment. And you can't prove the contrary.

The less loyal soldiers saw this as a sign that the coup had begun.

Half of them surrendered the following week.

Carts began to break, the horses became ill, the armor shattered like glass, of the remaining soldiers, everyone fell ill. My involvement was minimal and if I must or remember, forced.

In the following month, the sixth month, the other half of the remainder had become a fourth and was decreasing more and more each day.

Traitors were captured, but there were so many that if Kreg executed them, they would lose more than half of their offensive ability.

I was also on the list, even though I was one more victim. Luckily for me, the old king doesn't remember where all his winter houses are, but he also doesn't like to map them for privacy, i***t I know, but convenient.

At the end of the sixth month of the war, the situation was critical for Kreg, they would lose.

But since every plague always has one last card on its sleeve. Kreg gave up his entire fortune and devoted the last resources to hire foreign mercenaries, at a high price and in large quantities.

At the time, a crisis was spreading across European countries and the opportunity for a well-paid job was not overlooked.

In the seventh month, the two countries were tied again.

The situation at the borders was so disastrous that I had to move away to the capital again and stayed there, as you know, until the end of the war. Well, I had already done everything I could on the front lines!

The two countries were starting to wear out.

Then, as if it were a miracle or a joke, the game turned again.

Nobles began to disappear.

Whether on the battlefield or within their strongholds, they continued to disappear one by one, not that I have anything to do with it, it is simply a fact without any evidence.

At the end of the month, the king suddenly disappeared, leaving Kreg extremely weakened, without the iron fist of his lords, the rebellions happened again even among the newly mercenaries.

Residents of abandoned fiefdoms began to migrate to Castela.

Castela took the opportunity and invaded the capital. Capturing the remaining lords was not a very difficult task, as the mentally and physically worn out soldiers paved the way.

And then we got to our current situation, I was cruelly dragged from my quarters and brought to this room where we are. And what beautiful hospitality they offered me! I didn't even have time to wash!

 —Please continue on the topic. —Warned the King kindly, I think he likes children.

 —That day was marked by cries of relief and happiness from both sides of the battlefield.

The war is ugly, b****y, and it never, never ends well, even if one side wins both will lose.

Many mercenaries did not return to their families.

Many fields were burned.

But revenge was in the past.

Those who had pointed swords towards each other now are sharing a mug of wine. And I'm still here being forced to tell you all this litany that you have already memorized!

But well, the loser serves the winner. An old rule, but always valid, so I understand your reasons.

Kreg is no more. Not for the people, who now share their homeland.

The point is that there is still an heir.

Which officially makes Kreg still exist.

But don't worry, I have no remorse and no desire to take my rightful place.

However, I propose an idea that will be positive for both sides.

A little bird told me that the king decided to take a war orphan as his legitimate daughter.

I propose an engagement.

So, not only will Kreg be officially extinct, but a new royal lineage that combines both sides will emerge. Wouldn't it be a happy ending to this long tragedy? The two nations who once aimed spears at each other now live together without any discrimination!

What do you think about it?  —

I finish my beautiful speech by dusting the clothes I have been wearing for more than three months. I know, very precarious for someone in my class, imagine how I feel!. I look into the amazing eyes of the nobles of Castela sitting silently in the stands, and I hope that until my words do their due. Even if they do not accept my proposal, they will still have to congratulate me for my acts of bravery in the war, pay my indemnity for having suffered in the hands of your people, and hopefully returned my assets. In the end, losing or winning, I will have enough money to live in peace forever and a social position in which I can no longer be used as a doll.

It's only a matter of time.