The heavy steps of the knight Rob Darklay echoed as he made his way through the vast stone corridor of the royal palace of Esheland.
The hall was lined with honorary armors on both sides, each bearing the kingdom's emblem: "The Sword with the Watching Eye"—a mysterious symbol said to pulse with the energy of a slaughtered god. The swords, the shields, even the very walls seemed to watch every passerby, exuding a silent dread.
Rob stopped before the great iron door to the Throne of Iron, flanked by two guards with faces as cold as stone. He bowed to them respectfully and said in a low yet confident voice:
"I bring an urgent report for Her Majesty the Queen."
The guards opened the door without a word, allowing Rob to proceed into the Red Throne Hall. The hall was towering in height, with a stained glass panel hanging from the ceiling, casting crimson light upon everything, as if the throne itself had been forged in blood.
There sat Queen Vaila Dethrik, the last heir of House Dethrik, with her stern face and black eyes gleaming like midnight ink. Her slender figure was draped in a royal black gown adorned with silver threads in the shape of pulsing veins. She was not merely a queen… she was the shadow of a glorious past that refused to die.
She raised her hand gracefully and spoke in a calm voice, carrying a clear command:
"Rise, Rob… and tell me, what did you find in the Ossuary of Kings? Did you retrieve the ancient relic?"
Before Rob could answer, the throne room door opened once more with a deep groan, and the guard announced a new visitor:
"The High Priest of the Church, Father Grayman."
Grayman entered with slow, deliberate steps, each strike of his iron staff against the floor ringing with a strange metallic wail, as if tormented souls cried out with every motion. His wrinkled face looked like an old tome, and his gray eyes remained unblinking. He wore the Crimson Cross Robe, a sacred vestment denoting the highest proximity to the Great Altar.
As he approached, Rob bowed respectfully, but Grayman simply said:
"Rise, my son."
Rob stood at once, his eyes fixed on the queen.
Vaila spoke with calm but obvious suspicion:
"Father Grayman, what brings the head of the Church of Blood to my throne today?"
Grayman smiled, his tone warm yet veiled in mystery:
"I came to deliver the news myself, Your Majesty."
Vaila held a special respect for this man—not just as her spiritual and political advisor, but as the closest thing to a father she had ever known. After losing her father and brothers in the war, it was Grayman who taught her how to rule, to deceive, and to kill coldly… in the name of throne and blood.
She said softly:
"Then tell me… what happened there, Father?"
Grayman leaned on his staff and spoke slowly:
"We have obtained the ancient relic, and the Church is preparing it… however—"
The queen cut him off sharply:
"However what?"
Grayman sighed:
"Rahigh appeared on the battlefield, as foretold by Saint Orlahan… and he annihilated an entire squad of our Blood Blades."
The queen slammed her hand on the armrest, fury igniting in her eyes:
"That treacherous demon… how dare he return and slay our men? Wasn't the Massacre of the Weeping Blades enough?"
Grayman replied in a soothing tone:
"Your Majesty, it appears he was fatally wounded, and we are searching for his corpse among the dead. It is only a matter of time."
Vaila calmed slightly, then asked:
"How long until the rituals are ready?"
Before Grayman could answer, the door opened again and two figures entered.
One was a tall old man with a silver beard, his white armor gleaming like the sun, eyes radiating nobility and resolve: Saint Orlahan, one of the four Celestial Blades.
The other was a young man with sharp features and disheveled black hair, cloaked in a black hermit's robe, his eyes gleaming with a dark intelligence: Saint Mathos, the silent mage and cold-blooded killer and And also one of the four Celestial Blades.
Rob was surprised to see them, as their appearance signified only the gravest of matters.
Orlahan spoke in a solemn voice as he approached:
"Greetings to Her Majesty… may I ask a question?"
Vaila regarded him attentively:
"Go ahead, Saint."
Orlahan's tone held restrained protest:
"I lost three of my finest commanders and ten thousand elite soldiers… and yet no one has told me why we did this!"
Grayman snapped sharply:
"Orlahan, this matter is confidential between the queen and me. You have no right to interfere."
Anger sparked in Orlahan's eyes:
"Or what, Grayman? Are you threatening me?"
Grayman struck his staff to the ground, his voice trembling with rage:
"Do not forget who you speak to… and in the queen's presence!"
Mathos interjected with his cold tone:
"Calm down… I don't think you want a civil war in the Church, Grayman."
The queen suddenly shouted, slamming her throne:
"Enough! Have you forgotten who I am? I am the queen!"
A long silence followed. Then Grayman bowed:
"My apologies, Your Majesty."
Orlahan turned to leave and said:
"If you speak to me like that again, Grayman, the last thing you'll see will be the blade of my sword. And know this… I will no longer be part of the Celestial Blades as long as you are High Priest."
The queen looked at him and asked in a low voice:
"Is that your final decision, Orlahan?"
The old man nodded. Mathos followed him silently. Before they left, Orlahan turned back to
the queen and said:
"I made a vow to your father to protect you… and I shall keep it. But beware of this priest… even though you are of the Blood God's lineage—you too can be slaughtered."
They left, leaving behind a poison-like tension in the air.
The queen stared silently at the door, then ordered Rob to resume his duties, before turning to Grayman and asking:
"When will the rituals be ready?"
Grayman clenched his fist:
"In seven days."
She waved her hand:
"You may go."
Grayman exited with heavy steps, dragging behind him a shadow of malice.
He mounted his carriage and headed to the Cathedral of the Bloody Saint, that crimson red structure with its bone-like pillars and ancient chants. At its heart, he stood before a blood-soaked altar and said:
"Orlahan will be an obstacle… but stay focused. We must not let Rahigh reach the altar no matter what. Is that understood?"
Behind him, three men in black clerical robes responded in unison:
"As you command, Your Holiness."