Dying In Real Life Is Another Way To Play

In the horizon, dust can be seen rising up like smoke as it created a snake like trail high into the sky. Nine pairs of majestic looking horse-like creatures were mounted by what seemed to be armored knights as they escorted a carriage.

These horse-like creatures were called "Malack". Their skin are as leathery as an alligator or crocodile and as sturdy and rough as such. They have six instead of four limbs which are lined with claws instead of hooves, their long neck is lined with long bristles of hair and their heads are that of lizards with beaks jagged with sharp teeth and lastly their tails are smooth and lizard like as well. They have been dressed with metallic armors crafted by the best blacksmiths.

The armored knights were human in nature, their dented metallic armors seemed to have been in lots of battles but are still clean and well-maintained. Their waist have swords and sheaths and their backs carry oversized H-shaped shields. These men and women were trained since young to serve and protect the royal family.

Her Majesty the Queen of Sylvannas, Mirlana Alar du Sylvannas, was looking out of the Royal Carriage as they headed towards the eight kingdom to visit. Her son was left at the royal palace and she felt bored during the journey and mostly , she hoped to have this trip come into a close as soon as possible so that she could return and rest immediately.

As they were crossing through the savanna which was sparsely populated by tress and lined with scattered small hills, the convoy suddenly stopped. As they did, the Queen asked.

"Why are we doing an unscheduled stop?" she asked.

"Your Majesty, it seems that we are being surrounded by bandits" the carriage driver said as he hopped down and neared the window of the carriage to kneel.

"Tell me Rusco, which group does this bandit crew belong to?" she asked in a calm manner.

The carriage driver, Rusco, answered "It seems that they are carrying the "Yellow Herds" flag."."

"How presumptuous, did they not see that we carry the flag and emblem of the Kingdom of Sylvannas?" she asked with a smirk

"I'm sorry your majesty, as you have requested yesterday we've removed itto be less inconspicuous so that the peasants won't crowd us from the the last Kingdom in search for alms as they may delay us further." he answered

"Does this current predicament we're in, not considered as a delay?" she asked further in a sarcastic tone.

Rusco started to sweat as he know how her Queens temper is when she is not with her son.

The bandit crew were riding similar looking but unarmored Malacks, as they got nearer the armored knights started to form a circular defensive line with the carriage at the center.

The leader of the armored guards, Remalaus, ordered.

"Steady!... Guard and surround the carriage!!!"

"Well.. well... well,... what do we have here..." a bandit started speaking, he was wearing a turban and loose clothing which seemed to made from an assortment of random colorful garments.

"How much treasure could a lone carriage hold, that it would require a group of armored men to guard it with?" he continued and asked in a arrogant and mocking manner.

"Stay where you are bandit, you do not know who you're-" before Remalaus could finish his sentence they heard the door of the carriage open.

*ccccrrrrrreeeeeeeaaaaakkkkk*

When it did, the bandit leader and his crew curiosly looked on to see who was inside.

Slowly a beautiful middle-aged woman with fair skin who was wearing a venetian clothing gently stepped off the carriage.

"Your majesty, rest assured that we will deal with this immediately." Remalaus said as he bowed his head.

"Why it's a royal blood, isn't that right boys?" the bandit leader smiled as he looked around his subordinates.

"Wheeeoooow!!!" "Wheeeeeaaaa!!!"

His subordinates jeered in excitement.

As her Royal Majesty looked around she saw the hoodlums laughing merrily.

She then spoke "Stay your hands, we're in a rush."

"I'm sorry my lady but my boys and I are in need of fine-" before the bandit leader could speak

"Shut your mouth peasant! I am not talking to you, you are not worthy of my time." she commanded

"Wow! What an impatient woman you-" before he can finish his sentence the lady spoke again.

"Rusco, my darlings!" she commanded again

Rusco the carriage driver immediately took out a box from the carriage and opened it.

The bandits all looked at what was inside and saw two exquisite and finely crafted jeweled daggers which she both picked up.

"If you use those as a ransom then-" once again before the bandit could finish his sentence.

*BBBOOOOOOOMMMMMM*

The bandit leader saw the woman disappear and from her initial position, dust emanated from the ground.

"What the? where'd she-" the bandit leader immediately looked around as he spoke but instead of finding the woman he saw fountains of blood spraying upwards from headless bodies in their mounts

After the surprise, he recognized the headless bodies, those were his men! he thought to himself.

"W-what's happen-" poor bandit leader, before he could once again finish his sentence his vision suddenly changed as he saw a headless body going farther and farther away from his view. It was then that he realized that it was his headless body that he was looking at while his head fell downwards and hit the ground.

Before he lost conciousness he once again saw the blue clothed woman in front of her carriage as she gave the carriage driver her daggers. She heard her say "Wipe my darlings clean, I don't want it stained with filthy blood of ignorants."

After which she climbed back on her carriage and closed the door.

As soon as Rusco received the daggers, he signaled Remalaus to proceed. Remalaus nodded in return as they went off.

"....."

Before dusk settled in the horizon, the convoy arrived at Lian Taran City, the Kingdom of Rashasa.

It was now exhibiting its flags and banners to indicate which kingdom it came from, it seems that her majesty is intent on accomplishing her mission as soon as possible.

The city guards of the Lian Taran City opened the gates to let the convoy through and from there it rushed into the palace of the Kingdom.

When the palace guards saw the royal armored guards from the Kingdom of Sylvannas they asked them to stop and hold their line outside of the main hall. The royal armored guards did as told and formed a line.

Mirlana the Queen of Sylvannas, went out of the carriage and immediately headed directly to the main hall.

As soon as she was in the main hall she saw the middle-aged King and young Queen of Rashasa holding a banquet, she headed to the middle and far end of the hall to where the King and Queen were at, and after which she paused and gracefully curtsied, as she did, every one present in the main hall went silent.

"Your Majesty King Nubar and Queen Shaur, I apologize for intruding upon your celebratory banquet, I came bearing ill-news and a command to rally." as she said this she took the ring that her father gave her from her finger and threw it towards the King to catch.

The King reacted a bit late and missed catching the ring. While the squire serving near him dropped down and clamped it in his hands before it hit the ground. After which he stood up and presented it to the King and Queen.

The King picked it up from the squire's hands and looked at it as he said.

"This is Atrusca's Ring of Order, the archives of the previous royal family did indicate that this ring represents the alliance of the ancient kingdoms." King Nubar said.

"That is correct my king, even if you have replaced the previous King and eliminated his lineage, it would do you no good to disregard this summons." Mirlana said in a cold tone

"And what if we do not?" Queen Shaur asked "Would all the other kingdoms unite against us?" she asked curiosly

"No my Queen, that would end up wasting time and manpower that the alliance need." Mirlana answered.

"What do we get out of it if we do answer to the summons?" the King tried to ask as he signaled Queen Shaur to speak no further.

"Are you by any chance eliciting benefits for the safety of the empire?" Mirlana asked coldy, her patience running dry.

"No Queen Mirlana, we are just curious as we do not know much about what has been the norm for the kingdoms of ancient past." the King responded

"Very well, if you insist to inquire... during such summons, all kingdoms can enjoy the privelage of not having to pay tributes to the Elkadi Empire once re-established. Everyone will be conducting free trade to all the other kingdoms during these trying times. However all the kingdoms are expected to deploy their armies to be under the jurisdiction of the commanding officer of war and to provide all talents of every field to focus on war efforts." Mirlana answered her tone gradually calming down

"Are you telling me that only one person is to take charge of all the empires armies in this war?" The king asked further with one of his eyebrow raised while holding his chin with his left hand

"Yes, this is the most efficient way in resisting any invasions, it has been proven true the during the first alliance" she answered.

"I see, although we are collectively called the Elkadi Empire, we do not have an emperor or an actual empire so to speak. It has been brought to ruins since the ancient times... It was indicated in the "Book of Atrusca" that the bearer of this ring is to command the empire in the state of war, isn't that too much power for one person to take?" he said and asked

"You are correct my king, no man can resist the temptation of being an emperor should the war end to a close with our side winning." she said.

"I see..." King Nubar played around with the ring in his right hand for some time, there was a flash of greed that shone in his eyes and Mirlana did not miss it as she placed her hands slowly at her back

King Nubar held the ring in his right hand and finally enclosed it in his right hand grasp for a few breaths, after which he closed his eyes. As he opened them he sighed and tossed the ring back to Mirlana as he said.

"Thank you my queen for giving me the opportunity to understand my deepest d.e.s.i.r.es, I however, dare not cross my limitations and boundaries. I may be a king yes, but I too am human who cherish my life above all else." the king said.

As Mirlana catched the ring back she smiled and said. "A wise decision my king, you have passed the test."

The king's eyes bulged as he asked "What do you mean?"

"I already visited seven kingdoms before yours... As they were direct lineages of the ancient kingdoms, it may be the reason for their brash decision. Instead of giving the ring back, they chose to hold on to it by wearing the ring on their ring fingers and asked their guards to arrest and execute me to keep the ring for themselves."she said

The king was confused as he asked "What do you mean? You are here alive and well in front of me."

Instead of responding, Queen Mirlana took out an ancient looking rectagular box from inside her dress and opened it, as the box was opened the King Nubar and Queen Shaur saw seven severed ring fingers.

"..."

The king gasped as he saw it while the queen started to retch. They were both sweating coldly after realizing that they narrowly missed death's door.

After presenting the box, Queen Mirlana closed it once again and hidden it in her dress.

She once again curtsied and started to leave the hall.

Before she left the hall, King Nubar called out

"My Queen, if I may ask, the name of the man worthy of wearing the ring?"

Queen Mirlana stopped and turned around slowly.

"At the moment, men are no longer worthy of the ring, as the woman entrusted for this task, I'll be standing in until a worthy successor appears... My envoys will be in touch." she said as she turned around to leave

After she left, the banquet hall returned to it's noisy atmosphere gossiping about the demise of the kings of seven other kingdoms.

"My King, do you think she wouldn't use the power for her own gains?" Queen Shaur asked

"If she wanted to, do you think she would even put me to the test? She could have just killed us and then take the throne."

"Is she really that strong?" she continued to ask

"I once heard rumors that during her younger years, she was dubbed multiple titles such as "The Vanishing Princess", "Reaper of the fields" and "The Blue Empress of the Empire of Corpses"." he said

"If she is that powerful... What stopped her from conquering the continent?" Queen Shaur asked.

"She wasn't supposed to... that was until seven years ago... when the first batch of immortal foreigners started to arrive... It's not that she fears them, but she fears for her son and the reason why they entered into a truce"

Queen Shaur gasped "The immortal foreigners? You mean the "body snatchers"?"