《Kings Of The New Age》


 The Black Death

    "Is this the end of the world?" John wonders as he digs a hole in the ground with his hands, his black gloves rancid and covered in blood.


    Is he going to be next? Why not? After all, no one left from his family is alive and here he is, putting his younger brother in a deep pit 6 feet under. Pausing to look at the face of his dead brother, John cleans off the blood around his brother¡¯s eyes. His skin turning from deathly white to a pale brown with huge black marks like rotten cheese in his face, acid oozing out of both of his ears.


    "I''m sorry my dear brother, I hope I see you on the other side," John whispers, his voice tainted with emotion.


    Seeing his brother for the final time becomes interrupted by the fear that he can be next to die. He quickly pushes down the decomposing corpse of his brother, covering the pit with soil before he stands up, a tear in his eye threatening to fall.


    "But it doesn''t matter now," he sighs, glancing up at the dark sky as he feels death among the air. His gaze moved to the scene around him of people burying the dead and others setting fires in the roads to keep rats out of the church, a place of God that has turned into a horrifying graveyard.


    After looking at the dreadful sight and asking himself why he¡¯s here in the first place, the voices of soldiers gain his attention, "here! put them down here."


    He turns his head to see three soldiers coming towards him carrying another chariot filled with more dead bodies, "here are others we found nearby," one soldier comments. The other two quickly lift up the chariot to dump the new bodies, severed limbs, animal corpses, and even a newborn baby scattered in the gruesome mix.


    "Hurry up and bury them too," they command to John, the soldier looks at a man standing next to John, ordering him to help as well.


    "More and more, when is this going to be over?" John speaks, causing one of the soldiers to scowl at him.


    "Do your job! Or you will join him." They order both men to bury the new bodies underneath the church closest to God as they believe the Lord will answer them soon. Why not? Aren''t we all his children and here they are, dying one by one.


    It took several hours but John has reached his final moments, The Black Plague this time summons death to take him.


    He is finally going to join his family on the other side, feeling their agony and the agony everyone has faced in this epidemic, as they call it "plague from hell" some even suggest naming it "The Black Death". Some believe it is a punishment from God himself...But I wonder why I''m not sad? Is it because I walked through all dead bodies made me one of them? And see the final moments of everyone I meet? Or is it...Is this my final breath? I can''t feel anything anymore...Yes, I see them coming towards me, I see the...If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Around 80% of the world is dead because of the disastrous mortal disease known as the Black Death. Spreading rapidly across all continents, all kingdoms, the deadliest event happening in the history of mankind. Death is everywhere, from animals to humans, rich and poor, South to North all suffer the same wicked fate. As if the Reaper himself hungers for them all, as if God was angry from all sins committed.


    No one knows how The Black Death came about, all they know is as the sun rises up each dawn, death rises up with it. or how exactly humans survived because all history from each place spoke same told us a tale some belief some not. People fled to another continent by sneaking inside skyships, nearly a century after humans left, something told them to return to the continent. Though strangely enough, everything was perfectly fine. So they have begun building a new home right over top of the old one


    ¡°Yes, that is a weird thing right? What happened to the plague? But by far the strangest mystery is who helped them? And where is this continent Repinsa that the history was talked about? Why there is no map for it today? Was all of this real? 5 centuries later, and here we are a divided 4 kingdoms in the south once we were a great nation before the calamity.¡±


    "...As I told you all of this before but now I will tell you a new secret I said there are 4 kingdoms in South right?"


    "Yes tell me, brother!"


    "The 5th one was taken so tell me, you want to hear about it?" the small boy wearing his fancy pajamas softly moved close to his big brother in their bed with fear in his voice he says, "yes t-t-tell me."


    "THEY WERE EATEN BY RATS," Jake blurts out with a scary voice, making his little brother tremble, tears in his blue eyes.


    "Nooo," he screams with his childish voice before jumping into his brother¡¯s arms.


    "Protect me Zake I hate the yats" he pleas while Jake laughs at him.


    "Okay, okay, haha they¡¯re rats, not yats but don''t worry, I''m here," Jake assures, hugging Sam.


    The young boy¡¯s facial expression softens into a happy one again after hearing his brother would be by his side and making him feel safe by checking the massive bedroom for any rats. Looking towards his left, searching around the windows then slowly turning his head to check for them in the hall by the door. "I hate the yats, they are evil animals. Anyway, Zake tell me what happened to the 5th kingdom?"


    "Well it is getting late, it is time for you to sleep. I will tell you rest of the story tomorrow, my little Prince," as Jake slowly begins getting up off of Prince Sam¡¯s bed, he puts small stuffed bears and dolls around Sam with a slight smile on his


    "Now see little Prince, you have your guards right here, you don''t worry, they will protect you all night from..." with his hands he tickles both of Sam¡¯s sides, "RATS!" Sam squeals mixed with laughter from the two of them.


    "Nooo!¡±


    "Alright, hush, we will wake your father the king, and he may hang my head for this so please go to sleep now." Jake rises to his feet, preparing to leave the room, "O.K. brother, are you going to be here tomorrow? You promised me to teach me riding my little horse Piko," Sam asks.


    Jake turns back to face him with a smile, "yes I will. Sleep well and have nice dreams," he answers quietly before he slowly blew out the torch and finally leaving the room.

 The Empire from the Sky

    The world was never the same after The Black Death, and yet here they are once again rebuilding their new world. It took only a few years after their return in early 15 centuries to make new kingdoms everywhere, from the North to the South and everywhere in between.


    From what back then called Europe to the northern side of Africa since nobody dares to travel southern because of deadly desert and the monsters that behind it as they believed which in reality they are the native people in the middle of Africa.


    They believe Asia was empty, as the black death comes from there it took all the kingdoms there and the few people who barely survived it went with the survivors from the other two continents outside the dead zone.


    Years later all the small kingdoms in both regions had a war as what the history taught us "Humans always fight to extend their land..." about 100 wars happened in course of one century... To end up with one great empire got name Amerikos, a name come after the famous words by their emperor Trevos 1st, "the conqueror" when he set on his throne of his newborn empire for first time said "This is my empire of the new world." after he conquered all the kingdoms in north which was called Europe before the black death.


    Meanwhile, in south five kingdoms, four in northern Africa and one kingdom in the island inside middle sea...after years of bloodshed finally ended up in make a temporary peace between them, and they swore an oath that no matter what they will stand up against the invading army of the Amerikos empire if they came after one of the five kingdoms but until one day, that fateful day...


    "Eat, son! Fill your stomach with this delicious food then tell us the stories you''ve been told from Jake after his returns."


    The king of Aestrosa, Ecbart is eating his dinner with his young son, Prince Sam and his Queen, Jane. Maids come in and out the grand dining room bringing all kinds of food from chickens to boars, from salad and soups to wine and all kinds of deserts. The table was huge enough to sit around 20 people and filled with food could feed three or four hungry families for two nights.


    But this is a normal thing with the king, a simple feast as Aestrosa is well-known for being the richest kingdom in the South.


    Most people live fine inside its walls, they have the biggest merchants and specialize in the silk trade as well as fishing.


    Making it as today the second most important land after the Amerikos Empire in the Northern side of the Mediterranean sea.


    Ecbart rips off meat from the well-cooked boar in front of him, using his fancy knife for support. "Today¡¯s meal is fine, unlike yesterday, they served me a salty fish..." Jane complains.


    " Mhmm, well, if it weren''t you Jane, I would punish that chef for his mistake," Ecbart replies to his wife after sipping his wine.


    "My dear, I told you it was just a human mistake, it happens but as you see right now, he corrected it and you enjoying his food again." Jane assures.


    "Mama, look at this," Sam puts his doll, a small-knight on the table, moving it toward the nearest fish.


    "Attack this evil monster! BAM! BAM! Kill it! Kill it!" he shouts, pushing his doll in the cooked fish...


    Jane begins laughing at him,"Oh! son, come on that is enough, your knight has already defeated the monster now stop and eat it."


    The king with an impressed look on his face said, "Yes my son your knight won so back to eating that fish now before it comes after you at night! Haha!"


    "NOOO!" Sam screams loudly, he quickly starts eating the fish while his both parents laugh at him.


    "Noo! noo! Not a fish too! My brother Zake already protect me from the yats yesterday," he shouts.


    "What? yats? You mean rats?" Ecbart after a few more sips of wine asks his son wondering.


    "What rats are you talking about?" he questions again seconds later.


    Sam devours the small bits he tore off the fish before he answers his father, "Yes father, the evil ya-ya-rats! Oh! Yes, rats! I don''t know why I always mistake them with yats, but, you know, father the rats from old tales of the Black Death."


    "Tales about the Black Death? wait you mean..." The king starts, confused while asking his son.


    "What? Son, there are no rats here? I haven¡¯t seen one in years and why was Jake telling you stories about the Black Death? Those were horrible times..." Sam''s mother quickly butts in.


    The king put down his cup of wine with force, "how dare Jake to tell my dear 8 year-old son about such gruesome stories and events above his understanding?" Ecbart seethes.


    Jane turns to her husband asking forgiveness for her son Jake, "I''m sorry my dear King, I will discuss with Jake about this and warn him to never talk about the rats or anything else from that past to Sam again."


    After that, the family continued eating their food, but the king was unhappy from what his son told him during the feast. He couldn¡¯t accept his son hearing anything about the Black Death.


    ***


    Later on after the feast, Ecbart calls Jake, who¡¯s already been rebuked by his mother Jane, to attend the throne room to talk to Ecbart face to face.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    "My lord! Sir Jake has arrived!" a guard bows.


    "Yes, let him in," as the king sits in his throne drinking his wine. Starring with his crystal blue eyes at Jake who is slowly entering and walking towards the king...


    Jake dressed his royal knight¡¯s attire, a sword on his hip and the symbol of Aestrosa on his breastplate. A two-headed eagle inside a crest of feathers with the famous crown of Aestrosa, the golden crown had 6 rubies, who wears it every king kneeling to the king.


    Jake walks a few steps, he slowly bows to the king who quickly orders him with vicious voice, "STAND! No need for kneeling now! Listen Jake I don''t have time to talk with you about foolish things as your mother has told you that already before you come here to apologize to me."


    "Yes my Lord," Jake raises his head to look at Ecbart in the face, fear in his eyes. But deep inside there is a hate he has for the king.


    "My absolute apologizes I swear with my head I will never talk with Sam about it."


    "That is good but one more thing, Jake, believe me, if I hear you ever talk about that damned kingdom Pelarin one more time in my castle, no, just say one more thing about it inside my kingdom and I will and this is the promise from the king himself with all of my powers and the 3 holy Gods with me, I will throw you into deep sea in ruins of Pelarin. The cursed island which drowned into years ago with your father on it and believe me, not even your mother will stop me from doing it."


    Moments later after Jake hears the king¡¯s threat, with few tears in his eyes he raises his head looking to the king while keep biting his quaking lip. "Yess-m-m-my Lord I understand, my apologies."


    "How many times must I tell you mustn¡¯t mention that kingdom? How many times must I tell you forget about it because it¡¯s gone! Your father, your homeland, all of it sunk into the deep sea all of it died years ago."


    Jake looks around him at the beautiful throne-room and it¡¯s golden statues, the flowers, and paintings of the old kings as he cleans off his tears. "Yes, my Lord." He turns and starts walking away, blood pressure rising up, heavily breathing as he touches his sword with his fingers to think for a moment. The thought to strike the king and finish him off for revenge crosses his mind, but he remembers he has a half-brother who loves him and looks up to him. So instead he walks away.


    Back to mid to late 16th century, took around 30 years for the rise of Amerikos empire in first 10 years it was called Engasten kingdom but with the ambition of her young king Trevos, he conquered all nearby kingdoms then he went to the east to ignited war in every kingdom and by taking it one by one without single lost he conquered all lands in north so in just 20 years all north became one large empire under one ruler.


    "Today history shall be written, today I shall finally receive the gift from the one true God. Today I became your chosen king. No, I am a legend I am above the kings. I''m now the Emperor, I, Trevos of Engasten, the conqueror of what was before known as Europe, now it shall be called the New World, Amerikos. I put my name in history as the man who surpassed Augusts and all the Roman Emperors after him." Trevos announces to his people about his legendary victories after he landed a final blow to the final kingdom as it falls into his empire.


    "Hail to the Emperor!" people chant and in celebration, following Trevos as he rides his black horse holding his famous red flag with a golden lion holding a spear and a crown on its head.


    Riding towards his castle and from every city, more and more people join him as to them he was their hero. The man who stopped all battles by defeating all other kingdoms and reunited the continent into one large empire so all can live under his rule with no fear of invasions.


    Trevos indeed was the legendary hero they need, but they never knew the real story of his success.


    "I am rather exhausted from traveling the distance here, go and get some wine for me, I am parched," Trevos orders to his maiden to bring him while two other girls slowly take off their clothes.


    "Why our dear Lord, you should rest?" one girl playing with her long, blond hair laying down in the bed asks, wanting him to join her.


    Trevos gazes down at her with a smile, "ahh, how I longed for your soft skin."


    "What about me?" the other pouts. He caresses her chest with his hands, moving them slowly as she gets closer to him.


    "You did not miss mine as well?"


    Trevos quickly grabs her buttock with his other hand and kisses her. He looks at her, "yes I missed you too, my dear, how can one be an Emperor of all this land if you cannot get the best women in it?"


    The other girl in bed with her slightly jealous smile replies, "yes my Lord we are here for you, come join, the wine is coming soon, we shall do much fun tonight as for your returning home."


    While Trevos slowly climbs into the bed as both naked girls cling to his sides.


    "Lord Trevos, it seems you are enjoying your victories the right way."


    Trevos pushes both girls away, standing up quickly "How dare you to interrupt me?" he fumed with anger in his voice. Seconds later he looks the mysterious man up and down, getting close to him. "Who are you?"


    "Oh, I am sorry I did not mean to frighten you." The mysterious man wearing a black cloak says. A black mask covering his face was in the shape of a wolf, a hole in the forehead like a third eye. He slowly walks towards the torch revealing himself to the Emperor with darkness in his tongue cut in middle like a snake says,


    "Can we talk face to face?"


    "It is you! You come at a bad time," Trevos vexes.


    "My lord who is this stranger? I have never seen him here in the castle before," One of the girls questions.


    Trevos turns to them, ordering them to leave immediately and close the door, with entire shock the girls leave the Emperor quickly. Wondering about the mysterious man while running outside.


    "Oh! That short brown haired girl is very fine I must say! But I did not come to talk about your servants I am here to congratulate you about your victory, but do not forget to pay your debts, Trevos."


    The emperor wearing again his clothes then stand up quickly with anger in his voice "WHAT? Did you just say Trevos? I am your lord, your emperor Trevos"


    The mysterious man calmly walks away from the king towards the door, "yes, Emperor, enjoy your time for now but do not forget your promise to invade Pelarin.¡±


    "I did not forget, I...I... stop walking away and listen to me, I will invade it as you strange Omen of the Sky asked me to. But do not dare come to my room like this and show such attitude towards me!"


    The mysterious man quickly turns, "do it fast! We want that island soon! And as we told you before, worry not, the rest of the four kingdoms will be away from interfering so prepare your army for one final war and never forget who put you here. Never forget the oath you took before you joined us and never forget the one eye always watching you from the sky. He leaves letting the Emperor boil in his own anger.


    But it took to another decade for the empire of Amerikos to finally invade with the largest army has ever seen the shores of Pelarin under the lead of 20 years old Trevos the 2nd, the son of the first emperor.

 The Burning City

    1345 A.D.; the year that will change the course of history, inside one of the churches in Eastern Europe on a rainy day, the heavy blanket of darkness in the sky causing people to wonder where did the sun go? A knight carrying a message that would change the world rides his stallion towards the church.


    After he ties his onyx-black stallion near the entrance of the church, quickly he goes inside the church running from the stormy weather, heavy rains pelting down like bullets from the sky.


    He enters wearing classic armor from the era, a chainmail helmet and gilded iron plates dripping with water from the rainfall. An odd symbol engraved in his breastplate making the priests wonder about him,


    "My Lord, come inside, come, son, thank god you are fine. This horrible weather can kill even the bravest Knights, but my son, where did you come from?" a priest asks.


    "I have an important message for you from the Pope himself" the Knight replies after he drinks warm milk with some cheese.


    "What? A message? but why the hurry you could come tomorrow when the sun comes back, you risked yourself for a message?" one of the priests marvels, impressed by the determination the Knight has.


    With fewer words, he delivered the letter to the main priest and telling him not to share the letter with anyone else. The main priest of the church feeling shock from the weird message the Pop has sent.


    "Son, are you sure this from the Pop himself? I can see his autograph here but those words! What is this mad request? Has he lost his m...I mean is he sure I have to do this? I...I..."


    The knight stands from his seat, touching his sword with his gloved left hand while pointing with another hand to the letter. Interrupting the priest,


    "I delivered what the Pope personally gave to me, now you have to do whatever he orders otherwise you will have to answer your loyalty to him soon."


    "Alright my son, I will do what the Pope has ordered and with the help of God, I will manage to deal with it but tell me, what are these strange symbols you wear? A wolf? With these strange three eyes? Which banner is this? How the Pope can trust..."


    "Do your job, that is all." The knight interrupts the priest once more, this time he leaves while one of the other priests ask him to stay the night and he can go in the morning


    "Sir, you can stay here in our Father''s house... Wait, Sir, it is really bad weather out there-"


    The knight ignores him, continuing his walk towards the main double doors, "I did my job...it is now yours to do the same and always remember the one eye watches." He shuts the door leaving the church once and for all, disappearing under the perilous storm.


    "...Burry the six bodies you will find tomorrow, after that let the stranger from Crimea city who will visit you within the next days bury his son near them behind the church. And don''t let any doctor examine the bodies...this is a direct order from me, The Pop, burn this letter after you finish."


    The main priest reads those lines, again and again, trying to understand this weird request from the Pop. Without telling the others about it, he orders them to search for the six bodies near the river.


    "We found the six strangled bodies covered with blood and beheaded nearby the river as you told us..." one of the priests reports it to the main priest.


    "Yes, now bury them behind the church."


    "What? Sir but..."


    "No more questions please. Go! May God be with you!"


    ***


    Days later a man wearing filthy, ragged clothes comes from the Eastern part of the city. With brown skin, a black beard, and deep-set, almond-shaped eyes, the people of the city seem to put off by his non-eurocentric features. Riding a chariot, in the back he has a small coffin, asking with a strange accent about the location of the church.


    A few months later two soldiers wander around the city, in the cold night holding a torch and riding their horses they were apart of a group of soldiers searching in every corner for cats.


    "There! a cat, quickly! Go to the other side I will follow it from this side."


    "Alright!" the other soldier replies.


    One comes from behind the cat; chasing it while the other one quickly runs to the opposite end of the alley catching up with the cornered cat trying to escape. The soldier quickly kicking the cat with his large, amour covered foot, with his Greatsword, he pierces the heavy blade straight into the injured cat, killing it instantly.


    "Good job! you killed it, ah damn I didn''t run like this for a while,¡± the other soldier says, stopping to catch his breath.


    "Take your breath away? Chasing a small cat has made you tired like this? I wonder if are you having a hard time with women too? You know I can help at any time."


    "Shut up! Ha, in fact, this cat was a fast one, but as it seems wasn''t faster than your sword," the soldier laughs.


    "Well, that is one more cat down! How many remaining I wonder?"


    "Only a few, after all, the king took a huge part of his army and ordered us to hunt all the cats in the city for no clear reason. Man, I have felt bad for doing this, I mean come on why the hell would the king wants us to kill such animals? Did they do wrong him?" the other soldier replies while cleaning off his sword.


    "I''m not sure why either, but he mentions something about the Strange One Eye or something like that. So all of a sudden he commends us to hunt them like they did something bad to him at night. Wait a sec, maybe one of the cats fucked the queen? hahaha"


    "What the hell? That¡¯s a disgusting man! You want me to tell the king about what you just said? And I''m sure he will hang you from your balls after he forces you to eat the dead cats we¡¯re hunting. Let''s keep walking man! There are other cats we have to kill,"The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Afterward, both soldiers continue their patrol in the city, killing any cats they could find alongside with the rest of the army.


    Days later all cats were murdered in the city, causing the city to face large waves of the black rats and the fleas merely months later. A year later the epidemic started from that city and spread across the continent. 5 years later 80% of the world has died.


    Back to the beginning of the 17th century, but this time let me take you to the most important event that happened at the time. 1648 to be exact, the year that had been removed from history books, the year of the beginning of Trevus II showing his absolute power.


    "My highness, Prince Alfred of Apolloska, do you take Princess Adelina of Pelarin Kingdom as your bride; to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worst, in sickness and in health, until the last day?"


    The Priest holds each hand of both Prince Alfred and Princess Adelina inside the main hall of the Saint-Pelar Church, the largest church in Pelarin kingdom. The guests on their feet watching this historical event as it is the first time ever after the start of the new era.


    A wedding of a couple from two different kingdoms, Pelarin, and Apolloska, both were near to each other. As the Kingdom of Pelarin was a large island and nearest the kingdom to it was Apolloska, both having wars between them in the past.


    But after years finally, peace had been placed between them. The only child of King Marcos, Prince Alfred, had fallen in love with princess Adelina, it had become a rumor for years until he decided it was now the time to marry her. Making the relation of both kingdoms more stable and allied.


    It was the historical event that made all royals and nobles from all five kingdoms reunite in the church to witness this royal wedding as an example for the hope that someday all kingdoms will have peace without future conflicts.


    Princess Adelina was known as the most gorgeous princess in all five kingdoms. Her beauty never seen before, her face so white and bright like smooth porcelain, her red-hair was rare, no other princess in all kingdoms or the empire in the North had the anything alike. Jade-green eyes and a smile bound to make any man¡¯s heart leap. What made Adelina more special was her kindness and love to her people, after all, she is the daughter of the most generous man in the kingdom, the king himself.


    King Edward worked hard for years to not let anyone sleep hungry in his kingdom as he once said, "I shall never close my eyes to sleep if I hear any of my people could not find a piece of bread in the cold night." He made the wedding special by having a feast to all noblemen and guests from other kingdoms. As well as ordered to send food to every house within his kingdom. Nearly two thousand, a small number compared to other kingdoms but all of them love their king.


    "I do," Prince Alfred answers the priest and with tears rimming his eyes. Glances to Adelina¡¯s smiling face, tears of joy, tears of finally achieving his dream, marry the woman who he fought for, the woman he did everything to get. In seconds he remembers her smile when he saw her for the first time years ago when he was just about 10 years old.


    The priest asks the same vow to Adelina who quickly answers, "yes, yes, of course, I do!" Alfred smile never leaving his face as he looks back to her, he looks around him to his father. Marcos clapping his hands, smiling to him, happiness in his eyes, finally his only son is married.


    Turning his gaze further he sees King Edward sitting next to Marcos. Edward crying while clapping, after all, he¡¯s witnessing history in the making, he knew his daughter would be in safe hands, he knew this will help both neighboring kingdoms to get along.


    After the wedding''s grand kiss, Adelina and Alfred went back to the castle riding their glorious horses. The people following them outside to watch them ride off. The celebration begins as people dance and chant their names along the way.


    Indeed an amazing day it was, a day that many will never forget but a day no one ever thought would be their last. After they arrive at the castle, the newlyweds sit on their thrones watching the celebration, drinking the finest of wine and talking about their plans.


    "My lord, My lord, I have urgent news!" a guard bursts open the door, he quickly runs to King Edward who is chatting with King Marcos.


    "My lord! There...The..re..Oh my lord..."


    Edward put down his glass to stand, "What is wrong? Speak," everyone in the room stopped to turn their focus on this guard who was trembling like he saw Death insight, which in fact it was.


    "My-my Lord there is an entire fleet coming towards our way..."


    "A fleet? what?"


    "My beloved King, I am afraid this, not a simple fleet, rather nearly thousands of ships with Amerikos banners atop coming from the North. I have never seen such a number..."


    Everyone is entirely in shock, the King falls back to his throne, his face showing fear. He slowly moves his quivering hands towards his face, "no, this is impossible."


    The king Marcos rises to his feet, "what is this? You did not tell me you are in a war with them. What is going on Lord Edward?"


    "Father, what is going on? Why are they here?" Adelina adds.


    King Edward, quickly stands once more and he shouts toward Adelina and Alfred, "both of you leave now! Go back to Apolloska and prepare your army, call the other three kingdoms to join, we are under siege..."


    Prince Alfred unsheathes his sword, yelling, "there is no chance I leave you all here. I must stay and fight."


    Edward quickly goes to hold Alfred''s hand, "my son, please go! Take my daughter with you and leave now, there is a small boat that can take you both away from this. Go back to your people and prepare your army to come back with all kingdom forces to fight with us. I shall try to save time, I hear the Emperor doesn''t go for blood like his father. I shall send my men to negotiate peace."


    "Peace?! This is Trevos the II we are talking about! The blood in his veins is the same as his father¡¯s, that cold-blooded Emperor raised his son in the same manner, I''m sure. But you are right" King Marcos interrupts him. He looks to Alfred and says "look, you are a new husband you should go back there, take your wife and order my army to come to rescue us and send crows to all kings to come to save us. THIS IS WAR."


    "Alright! But you must promise to stay still Father! I will return with the entire four kingdoms and will send the Amerikos back to their home. Let us go, Adelina."


    She refused, crying at first but her father convinced her to go, both of them quickly go to a small boat on Pelarin¡¯s shoreline. They sail briskly through the waters while the army grows closer and closer.


    Meanwhile, King Edward sends one of his messengers to Trevos, asking for the meaning of this sudden invasion. But with Trevos¡¯s orders, the ship of the messenger is destroyed before even reaching them.


    "FIRE!" Trevos orders his fleet to start firing their newly invented weapon that they have named the Canon. It was crafted by Trevos¡¯s brightest Black Smiths, making it the most powerful weapon of the era.


    No one from the five kingdoms expects them iron balls from hell raining down from the sky. Hours later the army of Trevos takes over the shores and swarms inside the kingdom of Pelarin; killing everyone in their way and lighting the city on fire. Until he reaches the castle, Trevos orders to slaughter all noblemen and both kings Marcos and Edward.


    Edward comes out from his castle, ¡°please my Lord, Trevos stop! I beg of thee!"


    Trevos raises his sword, "today is the end, the one eye bears witness that I am taking over Pelarin and your head shall hang from the front of my ship as a reminder of whom I am to rest of the kingdoms! I am the greatest Emperor in this world and today I proved I am better than my father," he seethes.


    It is the last thing Edward hears before an arrow impales him, Trevos cutting Edward''s head off clean. He places the severed head into the hands of one of his commanders to place it in his royal ship. Trevos looks to the city in ablaze, "I Give you what you want! now give me the glory I deserve," he screams.


    It took Trevos only a few days to invade all five kingdoms and kill everyone, destroying the cities and reining down with hellfire. . That the story of Pelarin the forgotten kingdom, since no one ever mentions it after that event. A forsaken kingdom, since no one, come for help.


    That was the tragedy of Pelarin that got removed from the current history of four kingdoms in the south.

 Blood On The Sands

    "Zake, Brother, just wait," Sam calls out, running after Jake who was living the royal palace along with other knights.


    Hearing his brother''s cute voice, Jake quickly turns with a smile on his face, watching Sam. The young boy wearing his fancy attire consisting of a small golden rope with Aestrosa''s symbols with a small wooden sword in his hand.


    "Hey! Brother, wait for me, you promised to take me with you to fight evil enemies like the yats oh no, not again, I mean the rats and yes also I will fight spidens...spide..."


    "You mean spiders?" Jake chuckles, correcting his younger brother.


    "Yes! I mean spiders! Evil! I''m coming for you and with this powerful sword, I will finish them all!"


    Jake and his fellow Knights laughed, "oh yes! We need a warrior like you to defeat our enemies!" a Knight says.


    "OH NO! SPIDER BEHIND YOU!" another Knight shouts jestingly.


    "NOO! WHERE?!" Sam screams as he whips around searching while holding his sword.


    Jake quickly goes after Sam, tickling him, "yes spiders hahaha."


    Sam screams once more, following up with laughing and hugging from Jake. "No no stop it Zake!" the boy laughs hysterically.


    "Yeah Jake, oh excuse me, Prince, I mean Zake, stop tickling our Prince or you will get punished," one of them chortles.


    Holding up Sam, Jake turns to his fellow commanders, Sam says "no, that is fine, I will never punish my dear brother Zake and yes his name is Zake and not Jake" then he gives a kiss to Jake while Jake adding to what Sam saying "Yeah! I''m your honorable knight Zake haha."


    Then he puts down Sam then he told him "Look, my little prince, my friends and I, are going to do some job at the borders of the kingdom of Novarx and we will back as quick as possible so don''t worry we will train later to search for those rats and defeat all spiders lurking in the castle okay?"


    Sam grabs Jake''s hand and asks him "Please Zake, take me with you to this No-no-ahh Nov-va-what? it is hard to spell. You know, I mean that place, you are going to, please brother I will help you defeat your enemies."


    Jake gets down on his knees touching the prince''s Blonde straight hair and says "My dear young prince, my little brother, I promise you I will take you someday to Novarx, Yes a hard name to spell. However, we are not going to fight nothing there we are just going to do trade business you know that kinda boring trades I told you about before...and it will be more boring this one since it has to be in the south of the kingdom..."


    Sam interrupts Jake, quickly saying "Oh no, you are going to the desert on the south? Oh, no brother! There are those black monsters there."


    Jake turned his face to his commanders with confusion saying "What? Who told him..." Then he back to ask Sam "What are you talking about? Who told you about the black monsters? Hey, Sam, haha I told you there are no real monsters there, they are all just kids stories... Also, we are going there to trade with our friends from Novarx so need to worry."


    After chatting with the prince, Jake and the other knights left the castle, traveling towards Southern Norvax.


    "Few miles and we reach the meeting point." One of the dozens of knights telling the other that they about reach the southern side of Novarx after nearly a day of riding their horses moving from city to another city to rest and take food for their long journey...


    "Zake, my brother Zake, come save me here is a spider" A knight mocking Jake after he notices a spider running nearby them while resting after they reach in the southern wall of Novarx.


    "Yeah... Damn, look at this fucking view, see there is sand everywhere, Chris" Jake responds while starring at the desert from above the nearly 50 feet giant wall of the kingdom, looking to small sand sand tornados going on simultaneously in many places, he can feel sands in his mouth, all he can see is desert from that view, sees even the sky touches the end of desert...


    Chris who impressed with views, with a smile he says "Welcome to the south, bro, this is a view you look at I presume for the first time in hell on earth as some call it. As you see there is nothing behind that fucking desert only more desert and those piece of shitty, sand-walkers."


    Jake laughing for a few seconds after he heard the word "Sand-Walkers" then he asks, "Sand-Walkers? What? Haha you mean those black freaks I heard about whom live behind or inside or whatever they are in this huge desert!"


    "Yes! those fucking savages! They are fucking monsters! Fuck them! They are the reason why we are here in this fucking place... And fuck this god-damned wall just look at this damn sun''s heat I''m dying with my fucking sweat, I even got sands all over my cock! And I''m worried if I go to pee and a spider jump on it or maybe snake bite my ass too! This agony man!"


    "Calm down Thomas" Chris trying to cool down the anger from their mate Thomas who was getting close to Chris and Jake with an angry face and spitting in every step he takes.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    "Fuck this, So let me get this straight, fucking monsters attacked one of our merchants, they send us to investigate! What are we? Fucking monster-hunters? And why the fuck those merchants were going inside this fucking huge endless miles of sands? Huh?"


    Chris quickly answers "No! They said one of the merchants get lost from the rest while taking the road toward here and his torn up head ended up here and lost all of his supplies, so we are here to find out what happened?" then he adds to that by saying


    "Was it really the sand-walkers, I call them this because who else like those black monsters who can walk fine in that horrible desert to attack him. Or maybe someone else, or something else, I don''t know... Anyway we have to find that lost supplies"


    "Sand what? The fuck-walkers? Hey, are you looking at anyone to dare to take a fucking walk into the deep-shit desert? " Thomas points his head middle finger toward the desert as he yells again then he spits some sands got into his mouth "Fuck!" after spits again he says "Fucking hell I will not go down there searching who killed that fool! Why they even give him that much of supplies."


    Jake adds to that by saying "Yeah! Why the hell they let him carry that much supplies! I''m not sure if I want to go down there, to be honest, I mean look to this heat"


    After that, Jake and others went inside to meet the commander who watches that side of the wall to speak more about the accident.


    While they wait for the commander inside his chamber, Jake cleaning off the sands from his shoes while saying "Damn, all these sands I got in my shoes and I only was on the wall."


    "You aren''t a man for this place, Jake just admit it! You are the prince half-brother, you are the honorable knight Jake or let say Zake haha you should be with the king not here. You were never here before right?"


    "Yes I think this was part of the punishment by the king himself, after I was so stupid to mention Pelarin to him and how that fucking bastard, the emperor Trevos burned it to the ground"


    Moments later, the commanders walk into the chamber saying "Oh sorry, I let you both wait here, I had to make sure my guests are in a good place away from the walls. You know little sand can hurt their eyes."


    As start laughing while explaining how the other Aestrosa''knights told him, they have to go rest away from the wall then he mentions Thomas request to get a bath and two women and couple of fresh wine to refresh himself.


    "... Yes haha I know that Thomas he can be so rude when he got so much dust... Haha I mean the anger to his brain" Chris commenting about Thomas behaviors.


    Later when Jake asked Diego, the commander of the wall, about the black monsters, do they exist, what their story, and can they be the real responsible for the lost merchant...


    Diego, face expression changed quickly when he hears the question made by Jake while Chris make suggestions that are hard to believe someone can live there


    "You guys shouldn''t be here... You don''t know anything about what you are talking about."


    Then Diego explains to them the real stories about the black monsters of the desert by telling them how he meets these creatures the first time inside the desert.


    "We were 10 soldiers as I remember it like it happened today, we were given an order by the former commander, to patrol some areas of the desert after he heard about many lost men were traveling towards us from southern part, who passed the desert never comes out of it as they say...one day we went to search for one of royal families coming from Solakyos kingdom passing the desert... He got Lost we never found him, but we found something else, something I will never ever forget."


    Took a few seconds for Diego to remember the events he is about to tell while trying not to cry in front of Jake and Chris.


    " Yes! I''m sorry, Well we were searching and searching and then all the sudden a huge storm comes out of nowhere we got confused at first, this wasn''t normal sand storm because it has some weird smell to it when we get through that storm we felt we hearing whispers, I never heard anything like that... I''m not sure how but the sky turned to black all sudden our horses were acting strangely like they want to escape... But we continued walking inside the deadly storm.


    Until it got clear and the smell gets stronger it was a smell of death like dead rotten corpses and then I...I..."


    Diego couldn''t resist holding his tears. The fear in his voice "They come for us... They weren''t human, they were black people coming out from the thick sands like they were hiding under it...their faces were so strange. I still remember their red eyes and weird white painting in their bodies, their strange-looking hair, strange-looking clothes, and piercing parts of their body with animals bones. And yes they are sand-walkers as you call them, Chris, they were on their barefoot walking fine on those burning sands I never seen such creatures can do so, one of them even have a lion head."


    "Lion''s head? What? A human body with a lion head?" Jake asks...


    "I don''t know, something like that I think maybe he was wearing some sort of skin of lion or maybe he was a lion himself... Their screams were so dreadful, oh my god I still remember this screams hunting me until this day...I swear I never heard or seen something so awful like that. They were like chanting something I noticed the hitting their mouths with their hands while making strange voices and some even dancing...I wasn''t sure I''m dreaming or not then they attack us they were savages I never saw humans have that natural power that is why I don''t think they even humans."


    "Really terrifying experience you had but how you managed to escape?" Chris asked...


    (Back to remember the event Diego has in his encounter with black monsters)


    "Run... Run... Ughhh" a spear hitting the running soldier head.


    "Nooo!! Retreat!! All retreat... Ughh" as two black monsters ripping off a soldier with their daggers


    "I must escape from this..." Diego runs quickly as he can. Fleeing after he threw his shield and sword and cowardly run away from the gruesome fight the soldiers have with the sand-walkers.


    "I got to report this... Oh my god please save me" As he runs and falling then rolling up before he saw a city in the horizon, as comes closer to this city, he noticed the buildings and the wall of it similar to his hometown, even though he knew his city is in another side of the kingdom with the remaining hope he has he walks towards it scream "Mom! Dad! I''m back, please! Help me I''m so thirsty! It is burning me... please wait! Wait! Noo, don''t go! Wait" as walks while the city moving away...


    Before, he finally realized this was just illusions of the desert... With thirst and killing heat he finally on his knees praying for the gods. Then when he was closing his eyes for one final time while falling out, accepting his fate, then he hears


    "Wait... Is... That..."


    "Then I opened my eyes and I found myself back to the wall, it was a miracle how I survived that I was lucky to fall near a road while a man passing by and notice me, he gave me some water and took me back here. I told my commander about it, but he refused the truth... And we never found the remaining 9 soldiers..."


    Then he asks one final question to Jake and Chris


    "After hearing this from a real man comes back from the death itself, you think I will risk my men again to go to the middle of nowhere searching for a merchant? No way in hell!."

 The Burner & The Impaler

    Years ago, when Trevos the second was in early adulthood, he meets a young boy called Valdemyr, a mysterious refugee from Solakyos kingdom who come hidden in a crate with a merchant to Amerikos Empire shores seeking to meet the Emperor...


    "My dear prince, is the water hot enough for you?" A woman softly whispers while massaging the back of Trevos as he was standing inside his pool filled with hot water, starring at the torch in front of him as holding the edge of the pool with arms while she stands behind him...


    "Yes." he answers then she gets closer to him and hugs him from behind putting her hands softly on the neck and shoulders of Trevos while pushing her breasts on his back then she whispers, "Do you like my hands?"


    "Yes," he answers again without even feeling the moment, as he continues staring at the torch


    "My dear prince, what is wrong? Why are ignoring me? Are you bored with me?"


    Trevos answered, "No. I just..." then with his left arm he punches the pool''s edge as she got worried she hugs him again and whisper "please my lord tell me what is wrong?"


    Trevos "Who I am? Anna? Tell me who I am?" as he grabs her hands then turns to her waiting for her answer "You...You are the brightest prince in the world, the greatest I may add, no prince in all kingdoms have your powers, you are Trevos, the son of..."


    Trevos screams at her face"NOOO! I''m not! No! I''m not the fucking son of the great Trevos...I''m the great Trevos I will become the greatest and not because of my father name...It will be my name only my name, I will conquer the world. No, I will burn it down and everything beyond"


    As he gets heavily breathing, tears in his brown eyes, "I will burn them all..." as he repeats it, Anna quickly jumps to hug him and cool him down, "My hot prince, Of course, you will be greater than your father... They will help you achieve it, believe in me, believe in us, my lord we will make you the greatest ever, The Omen from the sky wants someone to achieve what your father couldn''t they want you to be the king of the world so don''t ever let this worries you ok? Now relax and let us continue our bath."


    Then they continue swimming together, as the smile back to his face until the guard comes to interrupt as asking the prince to come to his father chamber to meet the new incomer...


    Trevos 2nd, was unhappy for the interruption, but this was a direct order from his father, so he can''t refuse, quickly puts his clothes on and follows the guard toward his father''s chamber...As he was entering, he turns to the guard and says "You are lucky I didn''t burn you alive for stopping my enjoyment hour with my girl"


    Guard bow down to the prince asking for forgiveness, Trevos couldn''t care less while opening the door and closing it so hard walking toward his father with anger expression asking his father "Why? Don''t you know I was taking my daily bath? why the hurry father?"


    "My son, haha come, you will continue your bath later, I have an important guest for you" The emperor, walks down hugging his son and then both went to set in their thrones, getting some wine then moments later he orders the guards to bring the guest


    An old man merchant with an injured young boy, with dark ugly hair and dark green eyes and pale face, brown skin, small mouth with broken teeth


    "My lord, the Emperor Trevos and his grace son I may represent to you, this little boy, Valdemyr the last remaining prince of Solakyos kingdom, the only rightful future king..."


    The emperor start laughing immediately asking the merchant is he sure about this young boy as the merchant trying to convince the emperor with handwritten words from the dead king and the father of the young boy


    "My lord, as you heard what happened to Solakyos lately...the rebels took over the capital and killed all the royal family they burned them alive but Valdemyr was at Walikos city nearby doing a treatment, when rebels start the war against his family, the king send me this message to take Valdemyr away and cross the sea to you"


    "Valdemyr was a great king indeed, he was an ally to me, I feel bad for what happened to him and his family, those traitors will be punished and your kingdom will back to you, my little boy"


    Emperor Trevos after he reads the later to confirm the identity of the boy, he looks down to the boy who doesn''t even have an expression in his face, as he put his eyes on the emperor''s son looking to each other as like there is something between them.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    "Valdemyr the son, look to me, you will stay here under my protection until I slay everyone who betrayed your family and I will assure you soon you will back to your family throne, to your place as the new king, see this is my son Trevos the second the same as you got the name from your father, he can be your friend now, and an ally in the future"


    Valdemyr didn''t react to what the emperor said, kept silent, didn''t even smile or feels happy he was just looking at the emperor, the merchant stare at him telling him to at least say thank you


    the merchant quickly says, "Oh Lord, thank you so much, as you see he still on shock from the events, I apologize for his behavior towards your generosity"


    Emperor with a smile in a face he says "No problem, you have done your job, you will get paid his weight with gold and you are free to live and continue selling your goods in my empire. As for this silent boy, I will let my maids deal with him, a few days later, and he will be fine."


    Then the emperor orders the maids to come and take Valdemyr to his room inside the large castle...Later he asks his son to go and try to speak to Valdemyr and try to get to know each other as believed both must be allied in the future but Trevos the 2nd refused and asks his father about his decision on letting a refugee from foreign kingdom comes inside the empire doors


    The emperor explains "My son, you are an adult now, you should understand how the things go by now. I will not stay here forever as you know! I''m an old man I had to spend all of my years fighting battles and creating the one large empire to stop the bloodshed in this land...I wish I could conquer the southern kingdoms too but sometimes you don''t need the power to take what you want. See, sometimes you need allies to help you win as I did. Win a friendship with him now and when he back to his place he will help you conquer every inch in the south and by that you will be the conqueror of the world. A great emperor as me and I believe that is your destiny, my son."


    After he heard the wise words from his father and reconsider his future Trevos the second went to meet Valdemyr in his room, who refused to talk to any to the maids, he refused to go out from his room when Trevos entered his room, he got slightly shocked from the weird position Valdemyr was setting on bed


    "What the hell are you doing?" Trevos asked Valdemyr, who completely ignores Trevos which make him more anger "Answer me or I will burn you...Stop ignori..."


    "Burn me? Like they did to my family? Can you do it?" The boy finally speaks and smile to Trevos


    "What? you want me to burn you? But you are the prince also our guest...just what the hell wrong with you?... Hey come on answer me...what the fuck are you doing?"


    Trevos gets closer to Valdemyr who holding a tiny piece of wood and trying to insert inside a small bug


    "What are you doing?" Trevos asked


    "Enjoying my favorite game" Valdemyr smiles again.


    Trevos start laughing at Valdemyr while saying "Oh now I see you enjoy torturing beings...I got another way to torture people and it is easier than this...Look I will use it when my fath...No I will get those traitors and punish them for you"


    "Can I do this to them?"


    Trevos with a devilish smile in the face "Yes you will I will burn them all while they are on sticks, you can put them like that and I will burn them it will be outstanding view ahh and that nice smell of burning flesh while they are screaming in agony, you will enjoy it too little V...I love burning people alive ahh my god."


    "Burn them? as they did to my family? no! they will die quickly. See this bug didn''t die yet! I can hear it scream I can feel it ask me to kill it but no it is my toy I won''t kill it I just let stay like this"


    Then he put the wood piece up standing on a nearby table and then goes to the nearby window and ask Trevos to come and look with him at the black sky as it late at night.


    "See the ball over there? do you think I should put my traitors there?"


    "Ball? Do you mean the moon? ah yes! if you reach it before me haha see I will burn the moon too I will build a huge bridge and I will conquer it too and then burn it like the sun"


    "Ah, but who put fire on the sun? if that wasn''t you?"


    "I''m not sure! but I will find him someday and why not burn him too haha come here V, let''s go to my room and let us there play some real games, like chess, do you know how to play it?"


    Back to Jake and other knights who went Novarx to investigate about the lost merchant inside the deadly desert.


    "No way I will send my men to the desert. You will get paid for the loss of all the goods your men lost."


    Diego with anger trying to convince Jake who insists in going to find the lost merchant "But he is our merchant. He is maybe alive and lost somewhere there"


    "If you want to be a hero, go! go alone find him I will not risk my men for one simple man...This is real-world my friend, people die everywhere every day, because that what fate have to them. I''m sorry for saying this but it is over, you will get paid and you will return to your king who really doesn''t care about that merchant, he only cares about the gold."


    Diego last words before he goes out from the room, leaving Jake and Chris alone...both were chatting about the mission and arguing about rescuing the merchant until their mate Steve comes to them with a paper having new orders from the king


    "...Jake, Steve, and Chris, my knights you should go to Solakyos Kingdom you have another mission there...You will meet their king and he will fill you the more details..."


    Steve reading the message and asking Chris and Jake about this new mission and why only three of them have to go alone to the Solakyos, the most feared kingdom in the south to meet the most feared, dangerous king, Valdemyr


    "We are going to meet that psycho, Oh shit, we are going to see V the Impaler but why? why just 3 of us? damn it"


    "What are you scared, Chris?" Jake asking Chris with a worried expression in the face...


    Steve adds to that by saying "Come on, he is not that really scare king, he just cruel and strange-looking king with weird habits"


    "And with lust for the blood, history says after he returns with entire Amerikos army to recapture Solakyos and kill the men who revolt against his family years ago...With the aid of Trevos the 2nd he burned many villages and slaughtered his own people until he reached the capital and did that disgusting punishment he comes with..."


    Steve continues with Chris retelling of Vlademyr''s story


    "Yes, he put spears inside their body from their ass to their mouth while they are alive and then put them all over his castle..."


    Chris interrupts Steve saying "Not just that, all their families, friend and supports got captured and tortured then when rebels bodies become bones, he did replace them with them...And people often say he drunk their blood with his wine...Truly pure evil and our king want us to meet him..."


    Jake set on his chair again and says "Yeah...Well, that the order...let''s stay here for the night and tomorrow morning will go there and it is going to be a long ride to hell."