Chapter 16: The Fall of the Eastern Watchtower (Part 2)
919 Words
A heavy silence lingered in the palace war chamber.
The rain outside had grown fiercer, drumming against the stained-glass windows as if the heavens themselves mourned what was to come.
The six members of the Royal Vanguard stood before the King and Master Kael, waiting for an explanation.
The words of the wounded soldier echoed in their minds.
“The Crimson Order has returned.”
Azul was the first to break the silence.
“What is the Crimson Order?”
The King slowly removed the royal crown from his head and placed it upon the stone table before him.
“The greatest mistake our ancestors ever made.”
Everyone listened.
“Over a thousand years ago, before the Kingdom of Azul was united, there were two factions blessed by the Endless Stream.”
He pointed to a map carved into the table.
“One believed the Stream was a gift meant to protect life.”
His finger shifted to another mark.
“The other believed its power belonged only to the strongest.”
“They called themselves the Crimson Order.”
Master Kael continued the story.
“They believed peace made people weak. To them, war was the only path to true strength. Kingdoms were meant to fall, and only those powerful enough to survive deserved to rule.”
“They conquered city after city, leaving nothing but ashes behind.”
The room was silent.
“The First King of Azul gathered the greatest warriors of his time and defeated them,” Kael said.
“But they couldn’t destroy the Order completely.”
“Their leader possessed a power unlike anything the world had seen.”
“So instead…”
“They sealed him.”
Azul frowned.
“Inside the Endless Stream?”
The King nodded.
“That seal has remained unbroken for centuries.”
He looked directly at Azul.
“Until now.”
Those words struck Azul harder than any sword.
“Are you saying…”
“The Stream awakened because of me?”
“No,” the King replied quietly.
“The Stream awakened because it chose you.”
⸻
That night…
Sleep escaped every member of the Royal Vanguard.
Azul wandered into the palace gardens, his thoughts heavier than ever.
The moon reflected beautifully on the lotus pond.
Normally, he found peace there.
Not tonight.
“Couldn’t sleep either?”
Azul turned.
Bashan approached with his hands in his pockets.
“I figured I’d find you here.”
They stood in silence.
For once, there was no challenge.
No insults.
Only questions.
Bashan skipped a small stone across the pond.
“You really believe all of this?”
“I don’t know.”
Azul sighed.
“Yesterday I thought my biggest problem was being weaker than everyone else.”
He laughed bitterly.
“Now they’re telling me an ancient force chose me to stop some legendary enemy.”
Bashan smirked.
“I preferred when we were just trying to beat each other.”
“So did I.”
The two rivals shared a quiet laugh.
It was brief.
But genuine.
Then Bashan’s expression hardened.
“Whatever this Crimson Order is…”
“If they come here…”
“They’ll have to go through me first.”
Azul looked at him in surprise.
“I thought you only cared about becoming stronger than me.”
“I do.”
Bashan grinned.
“I’m not letting anyone else defeat my rival.”
For the first time in years…
Azul saw not just an opponent.
But a friend.
⸻
Far from the capital, hidden within a mountain cloaked in mist, torchlight flickered inside an ancient fortress.
Dozens of warriors dressed in crimson armor knelt in perfect silence.
At the center of the chamber stood the hooded man from the Eastern Watchtower.
He approached a massive black throne.
Upon it rested a sword wrapped in countless glowing chains.
The man lowered his head.
“My Lord…”
“The heirs have awakened.”
The chains around the sword rattled.
A deep voice echoed through the chamber.
“How many?”
“Two.”
Silence.
Then…
A low, chilling laugh filled the fortress.
“So the Endless Stream still clings to hope.”
The voice continued.
“Send the Ravens.”
“They are to observe.”
“Not kill.”
“Not yet.”
“I wish to see…”
“…whether these heirs are worthy of standing against me.”
The crimson warriors struck their fists against their chests in unison.
“As you command!”
The hooded man smiled beneath his cloak.
“The game begins.”
⸻
Back in the Kingdom of Azul, dawn broke over the palace.
The Royal Vanguard assembled in the Hall of Blades before sunrise.
Master Kael stood waiting, already dressed in traveling armor instead of his usual robes.
A map was spread across the training platform.
He looked at the six young warriors.
“Today…”
He rolled up the map and fastened it to his belt.
“…your training leaves the palace.”
Bashan smiled.
“Finally.”
Kael’s expression remained unreadable.
“You are no longer children training to become warriors.”
He turned toward the open gates.
“You are the kingdom’s first line of defense.”
Beyond the gates, six horses waited.
Their first journey had begun.
None of them realized that hidden among the trees outside the palace walls…
A pair of crimson eyes watched every step they took.
And somewhere in the distance…
A raven cried.
- Writer
