Mathias and Alisha arrived at the plaza. A huge fishing pole made of adamant ore stood proud in the middle ─ the symbol of Mergrande's prosperity. People flocked around the pole, planning for a resistance.

Mathias broke the run and stopped in his tracks.

A feeling of guilt sizzled in his stomach, surging all the way up to his throat. Why was he abandoning his post? He was a village guard. Yes, running away from his responsibility would save his arse but his conscience kept haunting him like a gripping thought.

Coward. Deserter. The thought of leaving his comrades to die held Mathias on the spot.

Alisha sensed something was wrong and tugged his tunic twice. "What's wrong, Mathias?"

"Nothing," he replied, collecting his composure as he knelt down. Mathias appreciated the unnerving concern that drifted all over his sister's hazel eyes. Clasping her frail shoulders, he wanted to give her the assurance she needs ─ even if it had to be lie.

"Listen to me, Alisha. Do you remember the abandoned stables where old man Santisas used to keep his horses?"

Alisha answered with a skeptical nod, lips pouting.

"Good. I want you to go there and hide behind the large barrel for storing hay."

"I'm scared."

"I know, I know. Everybody gets scared. Now go!"

"What about you?"

"I'll stay here and help. We are going to fight bad people. Very bad people. Don't worry. I just want you to trust me."

"Okay."

A slight curve drew on Mathias's cracked lips, thankful that Alisha wasn't the type to ask questions. "Off you go then."

Before she sprinted off, she gave him a warm hug, though her hands couldn't really wrap all the way around her bulky brother. "Please, be careful. I'll see you soon?"

The question stuck like a fish bone in his throat. Water began to swell in his eyes. For him, the whole world revolved only on his mother and Alisha alone. He cared so much for the latter. To leave something unanswered would be against his will.

But what could he say? Nobody knew what was in store for the night.

"Yeah, see you soon, twinkle eyes."

Lying to her wasn't easy. Sad to say, it was going to be the last.

| ~ |

Pitchforks, knives, and anything else with a pointed tip and could work well as a weapon was in every man's hands. Decades without war deprived the people of weapons.

Sorceresses had their ancient staves ready. Wizards took out their rusty wands that were collecting dust through time. Mathias found himself holding a beat-up garden rake peeled with rust.

His palms were damped with sweat like a swine about to be roasted. Wiping some sweat of his face, he tried to calm his fidgety body. No person was without fear in their breaths and dread in their hearts.

"Every Merlin stays in the front lines to defend our homes!" A voice boomed among the crowd of armed people. "Be courageous, friends! For our women and children, our town lives tonight!"

Everybody shouted back with firm enthusiasm. Their voices blazed with determination.

But to Mathias, the shouts meant nothing, drowned only into a hollow space in the corner of his thoughts. His attention was fastened on Alisha and his mother. Oh, how he wished he was at their side, making sure they were safe.

The noise of thundering horses grew louder. Huffing quick breaths, he fixated the grip on his weapon. He felt scared. It was now or never.

Then it came. A deluge of arrows wrapped in flames shoot off. Red fireballs dotted the sky and stormed down like rain on the town. Mathias would have admired the beautiful sight if only it wasn't meant for destruction.

Midway through the air, the arrows got snuffed out by a solid force, disappearing into the air in silvery sparks. Some of the men were supporting a magical barrier of white energy across the sky. Mathias gaped in awe. Even though he lived among them, it was rare to see Merlins at work. They exhibited arcane at its finest.

The earth shook when several Merlins ripped the earth open. Shining walls of ice began to form and rise, creating a protective shield around the town. Golems with blazing heads called Infernals sprung up from the ground as sorceresses began summoning them.

An arrow darted from up ahead. Before anyone could react, it hit a man in the chest. He groaned in pain as he fell on one knee. He spewed blood. Several more arrows shoot through. They deflected them with blasts of wind.

Mathias heart sank when the enemies came forth.

Soldiers clad in armor of gold and linings of silver appeared in armored horses. The townspeople were shocked; the intruders whom they long considered allies were the least they had expected.

To their horror, the invaders were no other than the King's royal troops.

One man shrieked, "Traitors!"

Barrages of sharp icicles welcomed the soldiers. No sooner, it was a hailstorm against the armored throng. But it did no good. Silver dust spread as the crystalline projectiles smashed into the armors, forming a mist of glistening smithereens.

Pandemonium broke loose and the slaughter began. Mathias was horrified to witness a one-sided battle. Hatred for the king began to swell up in every folk of Mergrande.

Those who weren't gifted with the powers of the Merlin were the first ones to die. Butchered to death, not even given the chance to fend themselves with their weapons ─like flocks of sheep being devoured by blood-hungry wolves.

Fear consumed Mathias. As much as he hated it, he swallowed all his shame and fled.

He felt foolish thinking they actually had a shot of protecting their town. Of course, they would have! If only the invaders weren't the King's colossal army of royal knights.

Besides being skilled warriors, their armors were crafted from obsidium, a valuable metal which negates arcane. It was the only element that could keep arcane-users at bay.

Hiding behind a stack of cargo, he watched as the horrendous scene unraveled before his eyes.

The Merlins fought for a while but soon, they were greatly overwhelmed ─both by their foes and by despair. Their arcane was no match for obsidium. The infernals weren't wreaking havoc as they should be. It was like ordinary townsfolk with sticks against savage soldiers. The difference in experience was evident.

Mathias could tell their will to fight was lost just like their hopes. He'd also probably give up if he was in their shoes.

Those inside their homes were dragged out into the streets, executed mercilessly, some even harassed and ridiculed at. Even the ones hidden in the trapdoors were caught.

Screams of misery filled the night. The cries and pleas of women and children fell into deaf ears. No remorse could be traced in the bloodied faces of the soldiers. They were devoid of human emotion.

Mathias thought about his mother. Is she safe? Seeing the massacre, all he could do was cry.

Friends and loved ones murdered one by one. Dead bodies of his kinsmen scattered all around. His fists balled as he mulled over the idea of diving in so he could redeem some lives. But he knew it was suicide so he stopped himself. Death was something he wasn't ready for.

After a while, some soldiers ignited the houses. Flames erupted all over the town, licking everything in its path. After a while, the heat of the battle subsided. The town was subdued and the survivors were tied up.

The King arrived at the scene. Mathias couldn't help but grimace at the sight of his destrier, raven and proud ─the color of death. Quite young-looking yet daunting in his scarlet robes, he emanated a supreme aura of elegance and royalty.

"Listen, my dear people. I've heard rumors of Merlins plotting a rebellion against me. You know what kind of a king I am. I tend to provide solution even before a problem has sprouted."

The King smiled.

Mathias gnashed his fingers on his palms. The surviving Merlins sneered, eyes loathing with hatred.

An old man spat to the King's direction. "Nonsense! You are afraid that with our arcane, we will come to power and defy your rule. Lazaddon, we kept our peace for decades! Is that how a king should act? Obliterate a whole village because of some groundless rumors? Churlish swine!"

Without warning, a soldier smacked the man's gut with the hilt of his sword. He instantly curled in pain.

The King remained silent. He dismounted and approached the man. All eyes were fixated in his direction. Grabbing what was left of his thinning hair, he pulled it down, glaring.

"Watch your mouth, mayor. Is that how you talk to your King?" His voice was calm but trailed with violence.

No answer.

The King pressed two fingers on the man's forehead. He began to tremble severely as bubbles of saliva foamed in his mouth. Wrinkles started to form all over his face, eating away the features that make him human. Gradually, his tanned skin turned pale and started to crumble. The essence of life drained from his eyes. Moments later, he was no more than a dusty skeleton tied to the spot.

Mathias shuddered at the sight. It was the first time he actually felt sincerely afraid.

"Kill all of these scoundrels!" The wicked ruler grinned.

One by one, the Merlins were executed until the last soul breath its last. Mathias shut his eyes tight, quivering as he bit his lower lip. The prestigious lineage of magicians had finally come to and end.

Fortunately, he was wrong.

| ~ |

Question: What do you think of the King's powers?

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