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“Don’t scream in my ears,” glared Igna, “-his father should have been more careful. Anyway, you best relay any information I wish to know. Ritenoot will today be under the rule of the Viscount of Glenda. This manor has no purpose, flames of my never-ending vengeance shall put a stop to its misgivings.”

“Why slay a child?” cried the butler.

“For the same purpose as I’d kill anyone else,” he shuffled to the broken window, “-he was in my way.”

“WHY WOULD YOU KILL HIM!” begged the butler.

“I’ve stated my reasons,” he side-glanced, “-I need not state it again,” the eyes trailed in a tinge of red to another snap. The cupped body of the noble in the retainer’s grasp blew to dust. “-Have at it, man, the noble shall reincarnate in a realm of which I hold dominion over. He wanted death, and I obliged. Does thee wish to follow his steps or will you ally to my cause?”

“If my master perished, I have no right to live. Please, allow me to follow him.”

.....

“So be it,” a diagonal slash beheaded the man in a whitened deluge of cleansing flames.

To the south, unbeknownst to the townsfolk, a gust of unseen proportions leaped across town. Bodies of well-hidden individuals would suddenly appear in the town square. Heads, limbs, torsos, a disgusting taste carried the scent of death, many of which associate with the ironesque smell.

‘Master wanted people to die,’ paused the spirit, ‘-and I’ve obliged.’ The heavy and tremendous power of the aura sufficed to have the local guild leader shudder. It wasn’t long until the pile grew, with it, came the attention of bystanders. Morals didn’t matter, a guillotine stood beside tall gallows. The timetable of a regular day would have execution in the mornings and afternoon. Some rather voracious businesses capitalized on the deaths as part of the entertainment. The result being, a enlarged view onto the somewhat crowded space. Immaculately arranged stone-likes and very rustic yet peaceful lamps guarded the sigil of ruthless judgment.

An explosion rattled the empty streets, “-who stands there?” cried a man caught amidst the bond of flesh.

“Your nightmare,” whispered the malignant presence, ‘-he’s bare of age...’ black hair and dog-ears were forced into a vulnerable position, the assailant had no tact – saliva drooled over a firm libido. Before a word of justification formulate, Vengeance swooped in, grabbed the back of his neck, and left. The unfortunate man hit and severed his leg onto the dangerously protruding broken window frame. A distant look to the room showed the boy’s impression of admiration, ‘-I want to be like him,’ thought the boy.

Faced forward, ‘-stories don’t need to end nicely,’ they leaped from building to building, until the town-square. Meanwhile, towards the north flew Igna, the clothes and face cleaned from blood or signs of a battle.

‘Vengeance did a good job,’ he landed before the countless masses. Stranger folks peeped from higher grounds, important individuals watched from the shadows, a nod to the partly invisible spirit eased the atmosphere.

“Hear me,” he thundered from the gallows, the onlookers buckled in gasps, “-I’ve come to conquer Ritenoot. The remnants of the church have been dealt with; the noble lord was found dead in his manor to the north. I, Viscount of Glenda, proclaim the town to be safe.”

“THE DEVIL OF GLENDA!” shouted a stranger.

“Yes,” returned Igna twice strongly, “-you,” he pointed, “-tis right, I’m known as the Devil of Glenda, the man who killed seven thousand men. The lifeless heads under us are the bodies of the hidden agents of Kreston. I sent my companions to clean the trash. The man who stands under the blade of ruthless judgment is a high-priest of Lucifer’s sect. The decision will be in thy hands, people of Ritenoot, thee hath two options. Kill the priest and be under my rule, one of which I promise to be fair and equal, or, spare the men’s life and continue independently.”

“He’s right,” spat the captive, “-I’m a priest of the church. You will all feel the wrath of my lord soon, he brings evangelium 1by the sound of angelic horns of the heaven. Bow down before his might, destitute rejects of the world’s grace, foul beasts. You’ve stained the havens of which we call home.”

“No matter what he says,” returned Igna, “-Arda will be free from Kreston, the province will reawaken stronger than before. Think well, townsfolk of Ritenoot, the decision lays in thy hands.”

“KILL THE FUCKER!” cried the crowd rudely.

“They took my wife and children away!”

“They forced us to their biddings.”

“MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED UNDER THE GUISE OF HEATHENISM.”

A smirk begot the fury of the mute priest, ‘-there’s no need to speak, you’ve done enough.’ A tiny thread of blood sowed his lips shut. “By Tharis’s name of righteousness, BRING JUDGEMENT ONTO THE MAN!”

“Hell no, he’s not dying easily,” a stray bystander leaped onto the platform, freed the priest, and threw the latter into the bloodthirsty crowd. Stones, punches, kicks, they beat, and beat, and beat, until the face was unrecognizable, and angered parent emasculated the representation of holy.

“Worry not,” said Igna, a space opened in the crowd, “-the man will not die so easily,” he landed. *Mana Control: Healing Element Variant: Restoration.* “-beat him to thy heart’s desire. Tis the only gift I can offer, exact the hatred onto they who’ve oppressed our idyllic land of Arda. Non-humans aren’t the scorn of the earth, we respect fauna and flora, we care for one another, and we always repay kindness in full. Humans are greedy, weak, and arrogant; ARDANIAN, JOIN ME, JOIN MY LAND AND FIGHT.”

The therapeutic beating, an oxymoron in retrospect, followed to the 18th of October. Here, the area changes to an overview of the would-be battlefield. The Faction’s army, led by Julia, and Aurora, marched strongly into the vicinity of the capital. They knew of what had happened; a ghastly palm gripped their chests fictitiously.

“Charge!” ordered Julia. Units of twenty stormed the ground floor. Empty buildings, streets, and no living presence returned, the capital stood solemnly similar to a ghost town. Soldiers quickly climbed the upper floors, aside from stray monsters, naught of dubious nature was found.

“The report is true...”

“The capital was truly plagued by death and mercilessness.”

“What should we do now?” wondered Aurora, “-we’ve taken the capital, and thus, regain control on our land. I fear the repercussion of the people, what will they say when their loved ones are nowhere to be found.”

“I see a singular path before us,” gulped Julia, “-Alaric and the others agree with me. Let’s publish the manuscript for the world to see.”

“Will it not bring scrutiny to the church?”

“Forget the repercussion, we ought to publish it.”

Next followed the 19th, 20th, 21st, and lastly the 22nd. In those days, Phantom published the manuscript under the name ‘The truth’. A very obnoxious title of which drew traffic. The company’s profit would be put towards Arda’s crumbling economy. Only a few copies sold, and already, the shift on the Arcanum was consequential. Matters of said kind need time to brew. In a way, the goal was accomplished. Ardanians learned of the truth, they knew what happened in those months secluded inside said prison.

The royal family’s castle rose on high. A heavy gate lifted for entry, an audience with her majesty the queen was granted. Igna, not thrilled by the prospect, sighed heavily on the drive.

‘I represent the faction. I have to negotiate for the future of a whole province, quite the pressure to put on the shoulders of a young adult. I can picture my mother and aunt laughing at my troubles. They enjoy shoving the harder jobs onto my stead,’ the car parked neatly. Suspiciously envious guards watched, a butler arrived, “-Viscount Igna?” he inquired.

“Yes.”

“Please follow me this way,” he walked at a pace to match Igna, “-the capital has heard a lot about the various exploits.”

“Elementary I should say,” the corridors and pathways became convoluted. All while the promenade, casual small talk gauged one another’s stress level.

‘The theme’s changed quite a bit. Feels friendlier and guided towards a child’s moods.’

A singular path continued down a hall of portraits and status. “-Her majesty the queen waits.” Two guards opened the doors when he arrived. A large room expanded, one could see the normal décor and feel of an office. The queen, in her late thirties, was quite the sight to behold. Her visage didn’t give to age nor did her hair.

“Viscount.”

“Majesty,” he bowed.

“Raise thine head and take a seat,” she offered, a holographic display of the land vanished, “-I’ve heard a glimpse of the visit from the duchess of Rotherham.”

“Queen Gallienne, I’d like to set the reason of my visit straight. The topic I speak of is the rupture of the Argashield Federation.”

“Pardon me?” she frowned.

“Please allow me to elaborate, not to be awfully obnoxious, I bear with me the crest of the Blood-Kings faction as well as the crest of Arda. They give me the full authority on the matters of state.”

“I don’t understand how a new noble would have the fate of a province granted so easily.”

“In a way, I speak using the authority of a king.”

“I gathered much,” her stone-cold visage didn’t change, “-we’re at a level playing field, do explain what’s to happen next, Viscount.”

“I presume you’ve read the book titled, the truth?”

“I have, and what of it?”

“Arda, and I’m ashamed to admit, has no viable ruler. Queen Shanna isn’t suited to rule, the public won’t allow it as she’s the reason why we were engaged in war. The second prince and third princess have abdicated their claims. The scope not only covers the royal family, but the nobles too. Everything has been left to ruin, the Blood-King’s bastions of leadership barely held the province from utter anarchy. The Argashield Federation must be broken, I know the history behind said foundation, and I also know the reason why such strong nations were together. My uncle strongarmed his way to a coherent alliance. The pillar’s gone, and the strong players will fall sooner or later. It reads clearly, something needs to change. The invasion showed how weak the Federation is, Elendor’s suffered copious amount of damage.”

“True that,” she resettled, “-what about a solution?”

“The establishment of new rulership, the true unification of Hidros under the Riverty royal family. The true patriarch and thy bloodline allow for the rightful claim.”

“Tis easier said. I understand my blood allows for Arda to unite under my rule. What I don’t grasp is why. The true royal family of Arda is the Haggard’s, what of the dynasty Staxius built?”

“It must be broken for the sake of the people. My mother, current head of the Haggard’s, is already the Duke of Rotherham. If we were to grant the title of the monarch, she’d become the Queen of Arda. The power struggle of the nobles will harm...”

“Viscount,” her eyes sparkled, “-what you said is possible. The solution stares us straight. King Staxius Haggard’s twin sister, Duchess Courtney Haggard. Her experience in ruling the land of Rotherham will suit the task.”

“Are you proposing the Duchess to become Queen of Arda?”

“Yes, her influence and strong persona will aid us greatly. You hoped for I to take the title of Queen. Instead, I wish for the legacy built by my old friend to forge on until the end of time. The Argashield Federation will revive under our rule. After all, the duchess is my best friend. Take the news to the Blood-King’s faction, a new leadership will establish from here on. The province of Arda shall be granted to Duchess Courtney. Before her ascension, do kindly take care of conspiring nobles.”

Heavy gates dropped, ‘-it worked,’ he cruised down the slope, ‘-the idea crossed my mind when we spoke. Mother is in a great place to rule the province, she’s smart, strong, and very vindictive. Queen of Arda, the Haggard’s legacy forges into history.’

‘Viscount Igna,’ wondered the Queen, ‘-he’s stronger than imagined. A young boy with the foresight of a wise leader. Arda’s best in their hands. Her influence will forge the Federation anew. The Empire’s allied to a new land, we need to stand stronger. Show me what the Haggard name will accomplish, newer generation.’