Prologue
750 Words
Prologue
Castle Dunes...
"What is it?" an ominous figure who was sitting at the balcony that overlooked the ocean said.
A man wearing a cloak stepped out from the shadows and going down on his knees with his head bowed down, he announced, "My lord, the frontier was successfully taken over by our army. However, there was a confrontation against our enemy. Commander Bullet signaled for their return. They will be here shortly."
Under the shadow, a smile spread in the figure's lips. He lifted a bottle of a very expensive wine and filled his glass. He then turned around and leaned back at the balustrade, with the big moon shining behind him. His image could be faintly perceived as the silhouette of a very fit and powerful man. He looked at his servant and asked,
"Any casualties?" before taking a sip, feeling the heat of the substance burn in his throat.
The servant didn't answer for a second, stupefied by the sight before him. He watched as his master took a drink while the darkness caressed him like it was his own lover. It wrapped around him with grace, which would be the worst word to used because his master never thought himself as graceful. But when his master looked at him and stared at his soul, he immediately answered.
"No, my lord. But the reports mentioned severe injuries to the other side."
The figure chuckled and it vibrated throughout the room. His laugh was full of menace and irony. "Well, well, well. It seems that we are finally moving on in this damnable war. I am very tired head butting that arrogant man. Oh, I meant to say I enjoy very much going up against him. Or did I?" he asked himself.
The servant didn't try to move, afraid that he might make sound that would startle his master and would easily end his own life. This was the trait his master had that he was very scared of. His master, if speaking frankly, quite had his screws loose in his head. He silently admitted that his master was a brilliant, even a genius, tactician but sometimes, he would say things that would not make sense to anyone but himself. Sometimes, it seemed that he didn't even understand himself as well. Just like now. However, nobody ever tried to point that out to him. Who would try when they all know what will be the end of the conversation once they say it? Even fools were not fool enough to do that.
His master shook his head and muttered, "No matter. I'm glad that we are making big progress. A little bit more time and everything will finally fall into their respective places. When that day come, I will stand beside Lord Cryros and we will watch as the humanity succumbs under our control." Then he looked at him again. "Tell everyone to keep up their work. We don't want to be losing now, especially because we just gained the upper hand."
The servant nodded. "As you wish, my lord. I will immediately inform everyone." Then he slowly retreated into the darkness.
The figure then turned around once again, and closing his eyes, he tried to listen to the sound of the ocean. Yes, that sound. When water clashed with rocks. No matter how strong a rock is, over time, it will slowly crumble and fall underneath the surface and drown down to the deepest part of the water.
Just like this war. They'd been fighting for a very long time and it was time to crush the opposing group and take their position as the highest and most powerful people in the world.
He lifted his arms and hurled the glass into the ocean. However, it didn't break in the water. It became part of it. Very much like his plan.
An enemy hidden amongst friends. A person who would bring triumph to this war if the mission was successful.
Leaning at the balcony, he gently let the breeze caress his face. In his mind, words formed as if like a silent message that could be carried in the wind,
Secrets will be the deal of the year. Never reveal your cards until it's the right time...
He then turned around and closed the door behind him, but not before muttering the name,
"Joker."
- Writer
