“Arno,” Fischer said, “kill Magnus with the blade.”
“He won’t do it,” Magnus said at the same time that Arno said “I will not.”
“He defies the council now. See what you’ve caused?” Hikaru said.
Magnus had burst out laughing, clutching his belly. The others had mixed reactions. Some stared at the ground in shame, others rolled their eyes in embarrassment, a few had wickedness spilled on their faces. Hikaru stared daggers at Magnus chuckling beside him, but only Fischer watched Arno. Arno met his eyes, searching them for meaning, but could not divine anything from the stoic. His hand pressed the blade’s sheath. Something was wrong here. Magnus had to be lying about the blade, he had to. To accept his words would mean his whole life has been a lie, the legacy he inherited had been false. His vision spun. No, Magnus had to be lying. Otherwise, these very councilors were their own true evil.
“You decide,” Fischer had said quietly. No one else heard him but Arno; the others bickered amongst themselves. Arno suspected he used magic. “Is Magnus an evil deceiver? Slay him, and find out. Or slay me, or us all, if you’d like, and find out what great evil we are.”
Arno’s hand crept to the hilt of the blade. He turned his focus to Magnus. Magnus had to be evil, had to be some sort of deceiver bent on ruining the legacy of the holy sword. Was such an act an evil worthy of the blade? His heart tore. He had no other weapons, but if he let Magnus spread this lie, the people would lose faith in his position and in the government. Basilagia would collapse as the gentry scrambled. There was no telling the consequences.
Conflict roared in Arno, but in the end, his desire to protect the legacy won. He stepped forward, and with one swift motion, plunged the blade into Magnus’s chest.
Blood sprayed his face. Hikaru shouted and stumbled away, falling over his chair, while Magnus stared at Arno with widened eyes. Fischer simply watched, and the others each had their own varied reactions. Of course they would, because Magnus was a great deceiver. He had been guided by demons; Arno wasn’t sure how he had divined it, but his suspicions were affirmed by the demonic book that fell from his robes. He pulled the blade, shocked to have used it for the first time, but it was put to good use; he had rooted out his own great evil. He was certain now; Magnus had been lying about the sword. It all added up. Of all the councilors, Magnus had been the oddest, with strange habits and mysterious meetings with strangers Arno didn’t recognize. He was here to bring the downfall of the nation from such a lofty position. Perhaps Fischer knew this too, and so had this meeting arranged so that Arno could root it out? He glanced at Fischer, pride swelling once again in his chest when he saw the sly smile on his face.
“Are we all in agreement that Magnus was lead by demons? That he was an agent of evil forces that had snuck into the highest ranks of Basilagia?” Fischer had said.
“Agh! I hate this feeling!” Hikaru shouted. “I know he was innocent, but yet I also know he was guilty. I hate this blade,” Hikaru said, staring at the sword.
“He was evil, no doubt,” Arno said. “I’m surprised I didn’t see it earlier. It all makes sense now.”
“No, you dumbass!” Hikaru shouted again, rising to his feet and jabbing a finger at the blade. “You only believe he’s evil because you struck him down with the sword! Hell, we all believe he was evil because of it. I’ve had enough of this farce, I don’t want any part of it anymore.”
“Hikaru, calm yourself. Sit down, please,” Fischer said.
“Councilman Hikaru, I know it’s hard to accept,” Arno said, agreeing with Fischer “but the evi-”
“Why the hell does the blade work on the one wielding it?” Hikaru said. “Slay me if you want, Arno. I’ve done nothing wrong but it won’t matter. Kill everyone in this room, and it won’t matter. Everyone will believe you’re a hero! Get it through your thick skull! Magnus was right. The blade turns anyone you slay with it into an evil.”
“Hikaru, were you… No, it can’t be. Please, Hikaru, I know you were close with Magnus, but you mustn’t fall for his deceits,” Councilwoman Kosteniuk said. At her words, Arno glanced at Hikaru.
“Shut it Kosteniuk, you and everyone else here know full well the power of that blade. And screw you Fischer!” Hikaru shouted, pointing his finger at Fischer. “If anyone is a ‘great evil’ here, it’s you! You and this damned scheme with Cilantronis.”
“Councilman Hikaru!” Arno said, wiping the blood off the blade with a rag and sheathing it. “Please, calm yourself. Fischer knew of the threat Magnus posed, it’s why he called me in here.” He met eyes with Kosteniuk, silently understanding what she meant. It was true that, for all their bickering, Magnus and Hikaru were somewhat close. If Hikaru was also working with the demons, he would need to be watched carefully, and it’s likely this outburst is part of that.
“I’m done!” Hikaru shouted again. “I quit! Screw the whole lot of you, I’m retiring to a cabin in the woods!” Hikaru stormed off, slamming the door to the chamber.
Arno didn’t say anything in reply, nor did anyone else for a while. He wondered if he should go after Hikaru for a moment; if his vague suspicions were correct, Hikaru might be off to meet with the demonic masters behind Magnus.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Fischer said. “Whether Hikaru is innocent or not is something you must decide for yourself, but there is a more present threat. Magnus’s masters, that is.”
He was right. Arno calmed himself and returned to his spot. “Of course. We have to purge the demons, find out who was ultimately behind all this and remove them.” Though he tried to hide it, Arno was excited. He was ready to finally embark on his own holy quest, to finally earn his title and claim his fame. His name would be written down and remembered alongside all the others in the book of heroes, heck, he might even be more famous than the first legendary hero.
“I have an idea of where they might be,” Fischer said, locking eyes with Kosteniuk. “These border disputes are too suspicious. They are a ploy for something more sinister.”
“Cilantronis,” Arno guessed, and exchanged smiles with Fischer.
“Exactly. I believe there you will find these demonic masters. Beware, though, because they might have other pawns in hiding.”
“I see now why you called this meeting,” Arno said. “You truly are the wisest in the land, Fischer.” He bowed, having received his mission, and excused himself from their session. Whatever other wisdom happened behind those doors was no longer his business. He had his quest, and with head held high, he made his way through the castle, all the while still unaware of the true evil.
(2/2)
Bit long, but I had fun writing it. If you read up to here thanks for reading! Feel free to leave any critiques.
“Arno,” Fischer said, “kill Magnus with the blade.”
“He won’t do it,” Magnus said at the same time that Arno said “I will not.”
“He defies the council now. See what you’ve caused?” Hikaru said.
Magnus had burst out laughing, clutching his belly. The others had mixed reactions. Some stared at the ground in shame, others rolled their eyes in embarrassment, a few had wickedness spilled on their faces. Hikaru stared daggers at Magnus chuckling beside him, but only Fischer watched Arno. Arno met his eyes, searching them for meaning, but could not divine anything from the stoic. His hand pressed the blade’s sheath. Something was wrong here. Magnus had to be lying about the blade, he had to. To accept his words would mean his whole life has been a lie, the legacy he inherited had been false. His vision spun. No, Magnus had to be lying. Otherwise, these very councilors were their own true evil.
“You decide,” Fischer had said quietly. No one else heard him but Arno; the others bickered amongst themselves. Arno suspected he used magic. “Is Magnus an evil deceiver? Slay him, and find out. Or slay me, or us all, if you’d like, and find out what great evil we are.”
Arno’s hand crept to the hilt of the blade. He turned his focus to Magnus. Magnus had to be evil, had to be some sort of deceiver bent on ruining the legacy of the holy sword. Was such an act an evil worthy of the blade? His heart tore. He had no other weapons, but if he let Magnus spread this lie, the people would lose faith in his position and in the government. Basilagia would collapse as the gentry scrambled. There was no telling the consequences.
Conflict roared in Arno, but in the end, his desire to protect the legacy won. He stepped forward, and with one swift motion, plunged the blade into Magnus’s chest.
Blood sprayed his face. Hikaru shouted and stumbled away, falling over his chair, while Magnus stared at Arno with widened eyes. Fischer simply watched, and the others each had their own varied reactions. Of course they would, because Magnus was a great deceiver. He had been guided by demons; Arno wasn’t sure how he had divined it, but his suspicions were affirmed by the demonic book that fell from his robes. He pulled the blade, shocked to have used it for the first time, but it was put to good use; he had rooted out his own great evil. He was certain now; Magnus had been lying about the sword. It all added up. Of all the councilors, Magnus had been the oddest, with strange habits and mysterious meetings with strangers Arno didn’t recognize. He was here to bring the downfall of the nation from such a lofty position. Perhaps Fischer knew this too, and so had this meeting arranged so that Arno could root it out? He glanced at Fischer, pride swelling once again in his chest when he saw the sly smile on his face.
“Are we all in agreement that Magnus was lead by demons? That he was an agent of evil forces that had snuck into the highest ranks of Basilagia?” Fischer had said.
“Agh! I hate this feeling!” Hikaru shouted. “I know he was innocent, but yet I also know he was guilty. I hate this blade,” Hikaru said, staring at the sword.
“He was evil, no doubt,” Arno said. “I’m surprised I didn’t see it earlier. It all makes sense now.”
“No, you dumbass!” Hikaru shouted again, rising to his feet and jabbing a finger at the blade. “You only believe he’s evil because you struck him down with the sword! Hell, we all believe he was evil because of it. I’ve had enough of this farce, I don’t want any part of it anymore.”
“Hikaru, calm yourself. Sit down, please,” Fischer said.
“Councilman Hikaru, I know it’s hard to accept,” Arno said, agreeing with Fischer “but the evi-”
“Why the hell does the blade work on the one wielding it?” Hikaru said. “Slay me if you want, Arno. I’ve done nothing wrong but it won’t matter. Kill everyone in this room, and it won’t matter. Everyone will believe you’re a hero! Get it through your thick skull! Magnus was right. The blade turns anyone you slay with it into an evil.”
“Hikaru, were you… No, it can’t be. Please, Hikaru, I know you were close with Magnus, but you mustn’t fall for his deceits,” Councilwoman Kosteniuk said. At her words, Arno glanced at Hikaru.
“Shut it Kosteniuk, you and everyone else here know full well the power of that blade. And screw you Fischer!” Hikaru shouted, pointing his finger at Fischer. “If anyone is a ‘great evil’ here, it’s you! You and this damned scheme with Cilantronis.”
“Councilman Hikaru!” Arno said, wiping the blood off the blade with a rag and sheathing it. “Please, calm yourself. Fischer knew of the threat Magnus posed, it’s why he called me in here.” He met eyes with Kosteniuk, silently understanding what she meant. It was true that, for all their bickering, Magnus and Hikaru were somewhat close. If Hikaru was also working with the demons, he would need to be watched carefully, and it’s likely this outburst is part of that.
“I’m done!” Hikaru shouted again. “I quit! Screw the whole lot of you, I’m retiring to a cabin in the woods!” Hikaru stormed off, slamming the door to the chamber.
Arno didn’t say anything in reply, nor did anyone else for a while. He wondered if he should go after Hikaru for a moment; if his vague suspicions were correct, Hikaru might be off to meet with the demonic masters behind Magnus.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Fischer said. “Whether Hikaru is innocent or not is something you must decide for yourself, but there is a more present threat. Magnus’s masters, that is.”
He was right. Arno calmed himself and returned to his spot. “Of course. We have to purge the demons, find out who was ultimately behind all this and remove them.” Though he tried to hide it, Arno was excited. He was ready to finally embark on his own holy quest, to finally earn his title and claim his fame. His name would be written down and remembered alongside all the others in the book of heroes, heck, he might even be more famous than the first legendary hero.
“I have an idea of where they might be,” Fischer said, locking eyes with Kosteniuk. “These border disputes are too suspicious. They are a ploy for something more sinister.”
“Cilantronis,” Arno guessed, and exchanged smiles with Fischer.
“Exactly. I believe there you will find these demonic masters. Beware, though, because they might have other pawns in hiding.”
“I see now why you called this meeting,” Arno said. “You truly are the wisest in the land, Fischer.” He bowed, having received his mission, and excused himself from their session. Whatever other wisdom happened behind those doors was no longer his business. He had his quest, and with head held high, he made his way through the castle, all the while still unaware of the true evil. (2/2)
Bit long, but I had fun writing it. If you read up to here thanks for reading! Feel free to leave any critiques.