Chapter 15: The Fall of the Eastern Watchtower (Part 1)
845 Words
Rain continued to pour over the Kingdom of Azul.
Dark clouds swallowed the afternoon sky, and distant thunder echoed across the mountains beyond the capital.
Inside the underground training grounds, the Royal Vanguard stood frozen.
The royal messenger remained on one knee, his breathing ragged after riding through the storm without rest.
“The Eastern Watchtower…” King Joseph repeated. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
The messenger swallowed hard.
“Your Majesty… the watchtower stopped responding before dawn. Captain Darius led a patrol to investigate. When they arrived…”
His voice faltered.
“They found the tower in ruins.”
The room fell silent.
“The walls had collapsed as if struck by a giant’s fist. The gates were torn from their hinges, and the soldiers…”
He lowered his head.
“…most of them never had the chance to draw their swords.”
Several members of the Royal Vanguard exchanged uneasy glances.
Even Bashan’s confident smile disappeared.
Master Kael stepped forward.
“How many survived?”
“Only three.”
“And where are they now?”
“The royal physicians are treating them.”
The King looked toward Kael.
“Prepare the Vanguard.”
Bashan immediately stepped forward.
“So we’re finally getting our first mission?”
Kael answered with a stern look.
“You are getting your first lesson.”
Bashan frowned.
“What’s the difference?”
“A mission is meant to be completed.”
Kael’s voice grew heavier.
“A lesson is meant to determine whether you survive.”
⸻
The Survivors
An hour later, the Vanguard followed the King through the palace infirmary.
The scent of herbs and medicine filled the air.
Doctors hurried between beds, tending to wounded soldiers brought back from the eastern frontier.
At the far end of the chamber lay three survivors.
Their armor was shattered.
Bandages covered deep wounds across their bodies.
One soldier stared blankly at the ceiling, trembling despite the warmth of the room.
The King approached him.
“Soldier.”
The man’s eyes slowly turned toward the King.
Recognition flashed across his face.
He tried to rise.
“No,” the King said gently. “Remain where you are.”
The soldier nodded weakly.
“What happened?”
For several seconds…
Nothing.
Then the soldier whispered.
“It wasn’t human.”
The room grew still.
“It walked through the gate alone.”
“No army.”
“No siege weapons.”
“Just… one man.”
Bashan folded his arms.
“One man destroyed an entire watchtower?”
The soldier’s eyes widened with fear.
“He never drew a weapon.”
“What?”
“He simply raised his hand…”
The soldier’s voice cracked.
“…and the walls exploded.”
Azul exchanged a glance with Master Kael.
Neither spoke.
The soldier continued.
“We attacked him together.”
“There were over eighty of us.”
His breathing became uneven.
“Our arrows never touched him.”
“Our swords shattered.”
“Our strongest captain…”
The soldier closed his eyes.
“…he stopped the captain’s blade with one finger.”
Silence swept through the infirmary.
The only sound was the rain tapping against the windows.
Finally, the soldier whispered the words that haunted him most.
“He wasn’t even trying.”
⸻
A Name from the Past
The King motioned for everyone to step outside the infirmary.
Once the doors closed behind them, Kael turned to the messenger.
“Did anyone identify the attacker?”
The messenger hesitated.
“Only one thing, Master.”
“What?”
“He introduced himself.”
Everyone listened intently.
“He said…”
The messenger took a deep breath.
“‘Tell the King that the Crimson Order has returned.’”
Master Kael’s staff slipped from his grasp.
It struck the marble floor with a sharp c***k.
The old master’s face turned pale.
“No…”
The King closed his eyes.
“I feared this day would come.”
Azul looked between them.
“What is the Crimson Order?”
Neither answered immediately.
Instead, Kael looked toward the King.
“Do they deserve to know?”
The King stared at the six young warriors.
“They do.”
He took a slow breath.
“Because if the Crimson Order has truly returned…”
“…then every one of them has already become a target.”
The recruits stood speechless.
They had expected bandits.
Perhaps a neighboring kingdom.
Not an enemy that could destroy a fortress alone.
Outside, lightning flashed across the sky.
Far beyond the kingdom’s borders…
A lone figure stood atop a cliff overlooking Azul.
His black cloak billowed in the wind.
Beneath the hood, crimson eyes burned like living fire.
He slowly opened his hand.
Resting in his palm was a fragment of glowing blue crystal.
The same crystal that had begun cracking beneath the royal palace.
He smiled.
“So…”
“The heirs have awakened.”
He crushed the fragment between his fingers.
Blue dust scattered into the storm.
“Let the hunt begin.”
- Writer
