Sustaining The King’s Life - Chapter 247

There is a chaos in the capital of Feuersturm, and Owen Lopez knew it wasn’t just happening to Feuersturm. Word got out and his brotherhood, the Faction, had now rose aboveground to help the citizens to pack and evacuate. It is high likely that the forsaken would target the ‘heart of Zuerst’—the capital of Feuersturm, which is considered to be the most prolific destination of the people who wishes to see Zuerst.

The faction, the brotherhood—is an association that worked underground with shady businesses and the like. People could say they are the underdogs that does the dirty jobs both the imperial family and nobility doesn’t want to get themselves involved with.

“Owen…Papa… where are we going?”

“We’re going somewhere safe, Rosemary.”

Owen said to the child he was carrying on his arms. They were all bringing their luggage, ready to partake the newly developed train that leads towards the province. Many were now aboard and ready to leave, including Owen and Rosemary. Rosemary stared at the people around her while holding her stuffed bunny.

She had bright, emerald eyes that had the right sheen of green. Her hair which was flowing red was akin to her mother, Rose’s. Rosemary was the duke’s daughter, a Feuerlon. Suddenly Owen was getting reminded of the things in the past… about the duke and a certain scroll which had the location of the sword of Feuersturm, about the duke’s affair with his cousin Rose, and the little girl which he had seen miraculously grow from her mother’s belly, resulting to her mother’s death—Rosemary.

“That’s our train,” Owen said as he boarded with Rosemary after showing his passport and hers. They were forged with the help of the faction. There, they could start a new life… but Owen knew that it still was a risk, to abandon all things here in the capital. He knew that Rosemary could even be better off with the Feuerlons… but…

Something about it doesn’t feel right. He kept on remembering about Rose, that night, the duke, and the secrets surrounding the girl who brought Rose’s necklace.

—

“I… the baby… Owen,” she says weakly. “H-he-he said… he said the baby would bind me to the man I love…”

Owen blinked. “He? R-rose, I ha-have to get you out of here… c-can you stand?” Owen held Rose’s hand with his trembling one. He had to get her out of here. Quick. But the rain—he had to do something—he had to call the duke—

“I… I…” Rose gasped and bled all over her thighs. Owen trembled and could no longer decipher the situation, only wanting to hold her cold hand.

“I had a… I had… deal… with… h-him…” A tear fell to Rose’s cheek. “to… speed the baby’s…”

Owen parted his lips, seeing Rose’s belly growing, whilst blood spilled nonstop across Rose’s thighs down to the floor.

“Sa-save me,” she says, “t-t-the… b-baby is killing m-me…”

—

That night, Rosemary was born. Owen took Rose’s words with a grain of salt, but now they made sense. Someone promised Rose to speed the baby’s growth. And Owen speculated that perhaps, Rose wanted to snatch the seat of the duchess as quick as she could. And it wasn’t far from truth, knowing her.

But who was Rose dealing with?

“Papa,” said Rosemary. “I’m scared…”

Owen then leaned to Rosemary and embraced her tight.

“I’ll protect you,” Owen had gotten rid of the accent he was putting as a front to hide his identity. “Just don’t let go of my hand, okay, Rosemary?”

Rosemary’s emerald eyes then gleamed a warm sheen.

“Okay.”

**

Faustina blinked.

Little… sister? What did this person just call her? His little sister?

“Quit speaking nonsense,” Roth said.

“Nonsense.” The man repeated, as if to speculate whatever that word meant. Then, he sauntered forward. The guards vigilantly held to their ground, but in a split second—

“Argh!!”

“No!!!”

Faustina saw them burn with just a single flick of his finger.

Faustina trembled as the guards’ body fell charred to the ground. Something similar flashed to Faustina’s mind; back when she was a cabin, when the forsaken had burned the king’s soldiers’ to corpses… Faustina’s eyes found Nathaniel’s. He had a striking appearance to the forsaken.

Now, only her and Captain Roth was left. The captain then stood in front to protect her.

“Do you all realize who you’re trying to protect?” Greed asked Roth with a monotonous tone.

“Quit babbling about nonsense,” Roth plainly answered as he slashed his sword through the warlock general. But then—”captain!”—greed had just easily used his flames to stop Roth’s sword.

Faustina felt helpless for a split second, but the warlock’s face now had a cut on it.

But before the warlock could even utter a word, Faustina and Captain Roth already made their escape.

**

“This sword is made out of a special alloy.” Captain Roth explained as he held Faustina by her wrist as they ran through the hallway.

“Let me handle this, M’lady. Hide yourself.” Roth exclaimed as they reached far enough from the warlock. “I will be—”

It all happened in an instant.

“Captain!”

Faustina had seen it all in a split second.

Greed.

Fire.

Blood.

And…

“Orwell!”

“Faustina!” Orwell had managed to protect the captain and Faustina using his last minute barrier. Faustina could see the flames around the barrier.

And blood—

“Orwell, you’re bleeding!” Faustina said.

“Sure am,” Orwell said, holding his staff with only one hand. And on the other was bleeding. He was also pale, but it doesn’t seem like he was to collapse soon.

“Isn’t it harder to keep my little sister? If you could give her to me, everything would be over.” Greed narrowed his eyes as he yet again triggers a flame. “Give her to me, and your lives would be spared.”

“Let me out, I can handle this,” Captain Roth said, holding his sword.

“You can’t detect his presence.” Orwell said. “He’s a warlock and an artificial human. He’s modified to be perfected at a degree we wouldn’t be able to sense him unless he makes his presence known.”

“I’m the high knight of—”

“Nothing will happen. You will die,” Orwell’s words were final, and he sounded more certain that ever.

“Take Faustina and run.”

Faustina’s eyes widened. “No, Orwell—we can’t leave you here! You’re injured!”

“Take her. Now,” Orwell said. “NOW!”

Roth clenched his jaw and then seized Faustina by her arm. Faustina stared at Orwell, looking at his back.

Time slowed down.

Faustina stared at Orwell’s back. At that point of time, Faustina wanted to come back to his side. She wanted to help him fight. To ensure he was alive.

She wished she screamed his name.

So he would have given her his one last smile.

**

Faustina found herself in a crooked place. Everything that happened was now a blur as consecutive explosions occurred in the entirety of the castle. She saw captain Roth’s face. His head was bleeding.

“Please be safe. Don’t leave this place.” He said before closing the small door. “That’s all we ask of you, M’lady.”

And with that, he left her into the small room which appeared to be a small and cramped storage. Faustina clenched her fist. Unlike Magierstadt, Faustina couldn’t summon her staff with just a command. That unique system is to be found only in Magierstadt alone.

Right now she was just a girl with no medium of magic. Before she could even get her staff, the castle was ambushed.

It was a good thing she explored the castle. She knows which part of the castle she was now… and just a few sprint away she could get into her room and get her staff.

However…

‘Please be safe. Don’t leave this place.’ That’s what captain Roth said to her. She bit her lips, hearing the explosions from everywhere—from the royal city, and from the castle itself. Faustina clenched her fist.

Was she this useless?

But what can she do now?

What can Faustina do when she’s this powerless?

“Noah…”

‘You are the one to sustain my life.’ The king’s gentle smile flashed in his face. ‘You are my Faustina.’

Faustina bit her lips and took a deep breath.

Without any hesitation she pushed the door, and went out of the cramped room.

“I’m sorry, Captain.” Faustina murmured as she ran to the hallway that was burning with scorching flames.

—

In a place far away, across the sea and the magic country—

The place that was in an armistice with the first continent after losing the Great War and had all their strong warlocks be exterminated for nothing.

The second continent, Zweite.

“Kabbalah’s Book of Summer.”

“Atziluth’s Book of Winter.”

“Beriah’s Book of Spring.”

“And Assiah’s Book of Chaos…”

In a room that had a magic circle etched on the ground with markings of forgotten lore, stood the royals of each country of the second continent, holding a hidden treasure of every kingdom they possessed.

“This is it.” Said the queen of Atziluth. As she, along with the royals of every country, offered their blood to the books, dripping scarlet colored liquid to the magic circles etched on the covers.

“Our redemption.”