Moments after Kayon's rampage in Dolkan.
A carriage rolled steadily along the road. As the city of Dolkan came into view, the driver stiffened.
"S Sir… look at that."
From inside the carriage, an irritated voice answered.
"What is it now?"
The driver slowed the carriage and cautiously opened the small window.
"Sir, excuse me."
The curtain inside parted.
The young lord sat inside, mid-embrace with Sera, while Soren knelt between his legs.
Startled, Soren jumped to her feet wiping her mouth.
The young lord's eyes snapped toward the window, glaring at the driver.
The driver's face went pale. He immediately slammed the window shut.
"I I'm sorry, sir! I didn't mean to!"
A cold voice answered from inside.
"You are dead when we return to the city."
The driver swallowed hard, his voice trembling.
"About that, sir… you might want to look at the city."
Silence followed.
Then the window slid open again.
"What do you mean?"
The driver slowly pointed ahead. In the distance, Dolkan was scarred.
A massive portion of the wall had collapsed. The gates were shattered, twisted iron hanging from broken stone. Dozens of forlorn and human corpses lay piled at the entrance.
Alex stared through the carriage window, his expression slowly shifting.
Disbelief
Then confusion
His eyes widened as the reality of the destruction settled in.
"What… what happened there?" he muttered, his voice tightening. He leaned forward, gripping the edge of the window. "Hurry, Go Now."
"Yes, sir. Right away!"
The driver snapped the reins, urging the horses forward toward the ruined city.
As they approached, the gates came into full view. What remained of them was little more than splintered wood hanging from twisted iron hinges, creaking softly as the wind pushed against them. One half lay flat on the ground, crushed beneath something that had landed with terrifying force.
The smell reached them before the screams did.
Burned flesh, smoke, Something metallic and sickening that clung to the back of the throat.
The driver gagged.
Inside the carriage, Alex frowned at the stench. He pushed the window open for a better look.
He immediately regretted it.
A woman stumbled past the carriage, clutching something wrapped tightly in cloth.
It took Alex a moment to realize it wasn't fabric.
It was a child.
The cloth was soaked red.
"My son…" she sobbed, her voice breaking. The rest of her words dissolved into incoherent cries as she staggered down the street.
A knight rode past, dragging a man by the shoulders across the dirt.
The man's legs didn't move.
They trailed behind him as if being held by the very cloths the man wore folding and twisting with every pull.
Bones bent where they shouldn't, joints turning at angles no living body could endure. The limp limbs bounced against the ground with a wet, sickening sound.
Alex grimaced, his nose wrinkling in disgust. He turned his gaze away.
Further ahead, a building still smoldered. A figure covered in ash grovelled in the street, laughing hysterically.
Alex turned to see who was laughing.
then he saw
A child clung to a corpse, refusing to let go, while a knight bent over behind a crumbling wall, vomiting into the dirt.
The carriage rolled deeper into the city, slowly sound and smell of the carnage disappeared, behind as it approached a growing crowd.
The crowd noticed the carriage.
"It's the young lord!"
Faces turned toward him.
Not hopeful.
Desperate.
They surged forward. Hands slammed against the carriage, some grabbing the wheels while others clung to the steps.
"Help us!" they cried.
The knights riding beside the carriage forced their way through, pushing people back and dragging the carriage free before escorting it toward the manor.
Inside, Alex pushed the window open and looked toward one of the knights riding beside them.
"What happened here?"
The knight guided his horse closer.
"Sir. Two days after you left, we caught one of the rebels trying to retrieve the heads of the hybrids displayed in the city center."
Alex's expression didn't change.
"And?"
"She was punished publicly. The whipping lasted two days… until a man arrived and saved her."
Alex went quiet.
"Is that all?" he asked flatly.
The knight froze, tightening his grip on the reins.
"No, sir. Before he left, he killed two of our strongest knights… and blew the walls down."
Alex leaned back against the seat.
"…That sounds like my father's problem."
The knight hesitated, then fell back into formation.
Moments later, the carriage stopped before the manor.
The door swung open.
Alex stepped out sharply and stormed inside without another word.
"Father!" he called.
No response.
He grabbed a nearby servant.
"Hey."
"Yes, master."
"Where is my father?"
The servant lowered her head but said nothing.
"Can't you speak?"
Suddenly she collapsed to the floor. Her face went pale as she clawed at her hair, muttering to herself.
"The time has come… we are all going to die…"
The knights rushed forward and grabbed her by the shoulders.
"Another one," one of the servants whispered.
"It's the fourth one today."
Alex turned to the knights.
"What is going on here?" he demanded, glancing around the hall. "And where is my father?"
Silence.
No one answered.
They all lowered their heads, their bodies trembling.
Alex stared at them for a moment.
Then he remembered.
"The slave," he muttered.
"If these fools won't talk… then she will."
He turned and headed toward the Grey Company, now formally known as Dolkan's Trading Company.
Alex stormed into the office, slamming the door behind him.
"Hey, slave! What is happening to my city?" he demanded.
Soren followed behind, her tone mocking. "You'd better answer us, slave… or should I say, Zephi?"
Zephi rose slowly, removing her glasses. "Wow," she said, cleaning them calmly, "someone's feeling cocky." She slowly walked towards them and leaned into Soren's face, locking eyes with her.
Soren took a step back.
"I would remember my place if I were you," she whispered, sliding the glasses back onto her nose.
Soren stumbled slightly, and Sera caught her.
"My lord I believe its in your best interests if your wives left for now."
The princes looked at the display and scoffed. "Get out. Both of you."
"But my lord, she was rude to us!" Soren protested.
Alex's hand struck her, hard enough to make her drop back. He pointed toward the door.
"I said get out."
Sera lifted her sister, and they reluctantly left, Zephi's eyes followed them, a faint grin curling her lips.
"Now," Alex said, turning his attention back to her, "tell me what happened."
Zephi's gaze met his briefly before she looked away, walking back to her table. "You've seen the state of the city," she said calmly.
"Yes. And I want to know who did this."
She perched on the edge of the table, crossing her legs with careful elegance.
"It seems the woman responsible was connected to someone very powerful… a three-star, if not higher."
Alex drifted below her skirt and swallowed, his eyes flicking between her face and her legs.
"A three-star? Who was it?" he stammered.
She smiled faintly, shrugging. "We don't know. The few who saw it called it an angel sent to deliver divine punishment."
"Huh? What bullshit is that?" he exclaimed.
"Beautiful. Powerful. Deadly," she said. "It took down your strongest knights with ease. Some have even begun to worship this person as a god."
Alex paced the room. "Who? Who could it be?"
Zephi stepped closer to him, placing a hand lightly over his. his face flushed red. "Don't worry, my lord. What you need to do…"
She pressed his hand to her chest. "Be strong, and show them how strong you are."
"Alex stiffened. 'M-my father can handle it.
Zephi sighed and withdrew his hand. And his expression faltered as he watched her move toward the open window, whispering softly, "We won't be depending on the lord right now."
"What do you mean? Isn't my father handling that?" he asked.
She lowered her head, voice quiet. "It's his job, right?"
Alex sat back, dismissing it with a wave of his hand. "That's not my problem."
Her expression darkened. She went and opened the drawer behind her desk, and retrieved a small token, handing it to him.
Alex froze. "Why do you have that?" he asked, grabbing it from her.
"That insignia," she explained, "is handed down to the next lord."
His face went pale. "What… what? Is my father dead? That can't be…"
Zephi sat beside him, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. She leaned close, pressing her lips briefly to his, then moved to his ear, her breath warm against his skin.
"Don't worry, my lord. I'm here to help you," she whispered. "With my help, you can relax… enjoy the title of lord, and leave the hard work to me."
Alex's eyes widened, desperation flickering in them as he stared at her. "Can I?"
She nodded once,
her gaze steady. "Yes"
Her lips curved faintly, almost imperceptibly. "The people are scared," she said quietly. "And the city…" She nodded once, her gaze steady. "The city is in chaos."
Alex leaned forward, eyes narrowed. "And your point is?"
"The people believe an angel punished Dolkan," she said softly. "We'll give them something else to believe in… their new lord."
A slow smile curved Alex's face. "Yes. Yes, they will worship me." He rose to his feet, chanting under his breath.
"Yes, they will. Just leave everything to me," Zephi said, stepping back and lowering her head in submission.
"For I will serve you in mind, body, and soul," she added, lifting her head slowly.
"My lord."