The Chronicles Of Rhaxtyx

'Thank god I found a guy who goes towards the inner circle'

That was what Knight Captain Damian of the Third Knight Order had his mind as he rode in the carriage of a merchant that was carrying supplies to one of his shops in the inner circle of the Capital. He looked tattered but it was obvious that he was a soldier so he still gained the civilians' trust.

This merchant was also the same, he was skeptical when he saw Damian but when they talked for a bit, he grew fond of him. Damian was a cold man on the outside but he knew how to talk and gain people's trust when needed.

"So anyway I stood there, dumbfounded by what that girl had for me. I was waiting for a knife but she got me flowers instead! Haha! I was so relieved."

"Haha. I like small surprises as well." (Damian)

"After that we went to a nearby bar and…"

The merchant talked and talked. He never stopped and his laughter was a bit irritating after some point. Thankfully, he could talk to the soldiers at the gate and have them give him a horse to get to the castle. His chance to do so was near as well as the carriage approached the inner circle walls.

"Thank you for the ride but I'm afraid our paths separate her." (Damian)

"What? So soon? Well, if our fates will it then we shall meet again."

"Likewise."

Damian got off the carriage and approached one of the soldiers in the checkpoint. The soldier tensed up and his hand went for his sword. Seeing a man in tattered chain mail with a sword hanging on his hip would attract suspicion of course. Damian lifted his hands and spoke with a smile.

"You can calm down soldier, I have word from the Imperium. I was expected a month ago but things got complicated. Give me a horse, I have to ride to the castle."

"State you name as well. I can't just give anyone a horse and let him go to the castle."

"You are right as well. I am Knight Captain Damian of the Third Knight Order of Hillan Imperium. I demand an audience with King Thelia Herron III."

The voice reverberated in the ears of the soldiers at the checkpoint. Damian slowly lowered his hand and wiped something on his left shoulder. Under the dirt and dust was an emblem of the Third Knight Order of Hillan Imperium.

Seeing this, the soldiers didn't know what to do and the one Damian was talking to ran inside the walls. He came out with his sergeant. The sergeant looked at Damian and asked him a couple of questions before ordering his men to escort him to the castle.

Damian smiled, thanked and hopped on a horse. He was escorted by three soldiers from the checkpoint. They formed a triangle around him, protecting him from all sides.

'Or preventing me from all sides huh.'

They would reach the castle in about ten minutes of horse riding. The nearby civilians' eyes were on them as they passed by. While they were riding, Damian looked at his surroundings. There were more military influence than before and soldiers were patrolling everywhere, especially on the walls.

"I see you increased the patrols? I assume you are ready for the war?" (Damian)

"You can say that. Because we couldn't hear from you, we did what we could."

"Really? I assume that's the reason of your aggressive behavior towards me right now?"

"You can learn more when you reach the castle."

After that, none of them spoke out. They calmly rode to the castle. When they approached, the door to the castle grounds opened and they entered the castle grounds. As soon as they entered, a group of soldiers surrounded them, ready for combat.

"What is the meaning of this?" (Damian)

"I'm sorry sir but we are ordered to escort you into the castle. Please cooperate."

"Haah. Whatever. Let's just go, I want this situation cleared as soon as possible."

He was being escorted by six armed soldiers. Well, to be frank, he was being dragged by them. He was being treated as a prisoner or a fugitive. Damian was angry at this situation but there was nothing he could do.

They walked for about quarter of an hour before reaching a large door. This was the court room of the King. The four guards on the sides of the door were looking at Damian menacingly. They slowly opened the door and Damian, under the lead of six soldiers, entered the courtroom.

Inside was packed with people. There was apparently a meeting taking place. When they entered all the eyes landed on him. The King was sitting at the head of the table and on his left was the First General Joule.

"You have finally come, Sir Damian." (King Thelia Herron III)

"Your majesty." (Damian)

Damian did his knight's salute to the king and lowered his head.

"Raise your head. I'm sure you must have questions as to why were you led here like this."

"Precisely your majesty. The last time I checked, the Kingdom and the Imperium were allies."

"It may have been so, but something happened to make us think otherwise."

"I can say the same to you your majesty."

"Oh? Is that so? I would love to hear what you have to say."

"As you wish. It goes like this."

Damian then started telling his story. Telling what happened at the day he and his group were supposed to meet up Imperial Guards. How they were ambushed by Sir Terry and his men in the woods. His story gathered hate and there were quite a lot of people yelling at him about how he was lying and he was presumptuous. Damian didn't bat them any eye and the King wanted him to continue on his story. At the end, everybody, save for King, wished that gazes could kill as they looked at Damian with hate filled eyes.

"That is how things happened your majesty."

"I see. So you are saying to me that, one of my imperial guards, one of the people that I trust my life with, has ambushed you and killed the ambassadors?"

"I'm afraid so, your majesty. I suspect the Dynasties to be frank. They might have planted some spies-"

"Then you are saying that my men are blind, is that so?"

"I didn't say something like that your majesty."

"Then I am deaf?"

"Your majesty I-"

"Then why don't we ask the person himself then."

King Thelia lifted his hand and one of the side doors opened. The person to come inside was none other than Sir Terry except he was beaten up and his left arm was supported with a rope on his neck. He entered and as soon as his eyes met Damian's his knees gave in and he fell to the floor. His expression contained fear and his eyes were wide open. He couldn't complete a single sentence. He then screamed and ran for the door, only to be held by guards and calmed down by them.

After he calmed down somewhat, King Thelia started speaking.

"It okay, son. Have you calmed down enough to speak?"

"Y-Yes, yes, your majesty."

"Good. Can you tell us what happened at the day you met up with Hillan Imperium's envoys?"

"Me and- me and my men were expecting- expecting two envoys and five soldiers. But what we- what we saw was just- j-j-j-just soldiers. A-armed to the t-t-t-t-t-teeth."

"It's okay son. Give him some water."

Damian was shocked at what he heard.

'This bastard!'

"How many soldiers were there?"

"F-f-f-fourteen."

"You bastard!" (Damian)

"Hold him!" (First General Joule)

After he heard the number of soldiers he 'brought' with him, he couldn't hold himself anymore and charged at Sir Terry. He was of course immediately apprehended but the soldiers had a hard time doing so. Even though he was stopped, they couldn't stop him from talking.

"Enough with your lies. Those men, MY men, have died at your villainous ambush you dare blame the Imperium! Your majesty, this Dynasty bastard deceives you! Please open your eyes!"

While this was all happening, Rhaxtyx was still in the magic shop. There was a total of eight cloaked figures that entered the shop. All of their faces were covered and their bodies looked all the same. Their clothes were worn so that their body types and faces were hidden, making it impossible to recognize them by that.

Rhaxtyx looked at them and smirked. He turned around and waved at them.

"Hello! You are finally here! Man I was looking forward for this. You took your sweet time didn't you."

The middle-aged man was surprised to hear this from Rhaxtyx so he turned to look at him but with a little bit of killing intent. Rhaxtyx saw this and looked at him with a smile.

"What are you looking at? Can't I talk with my assassins? At least let me do that."

"What are you trying to do?" (Middle-aged man)

"Hmm? Why do you ask me?"

"Because you brought your men here?"

"My man? What are you talking about?"

Rhaxtyx was thoroughly confused. He didn't bring any men with him, at least not to the shop, but this man was accusing of bringing men to the shop.

"Why would I bring my men? My friends are not here."

"Then who are those!?"

"Them? My assassins!"

"Exactly! So you brought men here!"

"What? No!"

"But they are your assassins!"

"Yes."

"So they are your men!"

"Why would they be?"

This went on for a while and the shop keeper and the assassins watched this exchange with funny expressions. The assassins looked at each other but none of them seemed to know what to do. They were just shrugging.

"They are your men!" (Middle-aged Man)

"No! They are my assassins!" (Rhaxtyx)

"Shut up!" (Assassin)

The assassins had it enough. They were watching these two idiots yelling at each other nonsense for five minutes now. Their leader was angry that they were ignored and they had to listen to that exchange. He lifted his daggers and pointed at the two idiots.

"Today you two idiots will die!" (Assassin)

"Oh?" (Rhaxtyx)

"What? They weren't your men?"

"I told you! They are not my men they are my assassins!"