The Knights of St. Harfeld

47- Goodbye, Friend

One hundred witches, most of them were untrained, stood in the bailey. Nakasuot ang mga ito ng kulay pulang loose jacket and pants, black boots at pula ring cowl hood.

Sa likod ng mga pila ng witches ay ang nakaitim na Knights na aabot ng limampu dahil iyung mga Apprentice na nagpaiwan ay ginawang Knight ng Grand Knight.

"Our continent had thrived and was prosperous for hundreds of years because of our efficient system," malakas na sabi ng Grand Knight na nakatayo sa harapan ng lahat. Suot nito ang kulay gold nitong cloak pero hindi nakataas ang hood nito.

"Hear, hear," tila iisang taong sagot ng lahat.

"The Order of the Purple Lily has taken care of Narguille for centuries. We have taken care of them and let them live comfortably but what do we get in return? Betrayal!"

"Hear, hear."

"Kaya ngayon, aatakehin ninyo ang encampment ng mga traydor! May pupunta uli sa mga provinces. We will get their final decision. Kapag hindi natin sila kakampi, ano ang gagawin sa kanila?"

"Kill them!" sagot uli ng mga witches at Knights.

Malaking ngisi ang sumilay sa mga labi ng Grand Knight.

"Ang lahat ng ito ay nangyari dahil kay Fenris Paynes. Siya ang nagsimula ng lahat ng pagbabago kaya marami ang nangahas pagkatapos."

Fenris Paynes asked the Grand Knight to become an apprentice, to become the first female Knight. Walang nagawa ang lider ng Order dahil buhay pa ito dahil sa dalaga. She saved his life so he owed her a favor.

And clever was she for asking the impossible on live TV.

Nanggagalaiti pa rin ang Grand Knight kung paano ito naisahan ng isang teenager.

And that was just the start. Others became bold.

But it wasn't too late to fix this problem. Paniguradong marami pa rin ang believers. All he had to do was have the insurgents killed. Erase them. Make them look like the villains they really were.

Para sa Grand Knight, he was the protagonist of this story. He made sure that their land was rich and safe from foreign forces. How could those idiots think otherwise?

Para sa Grand Knight, he was a hero of this land. And he really believed that. Para sa kanya, wala siyang ginagawang masama. He only wanted what's best for Narguille.

Narguille. Not Narguillians.

He would do anything for Narguille and its citizens should do the same.

"Patayin lahat ng mga kumaliwa. Spare the lives of those who still believe in me. Faithfulness is what we want to have in Narguille. Walang lugar ang mga traydor dito sa mahal nating bayan. Makinig kayo sa plano ni Kruz. S'ya ang utak ng ating operasyon. He is smart and cunning. Makinig kayo sa kanya."

Kruz stepped in front of the Knights and the witches who were also his half-brothers. Hindi nito mahal ang mga kapatid. Katulad nito, tools lang din ang mga ito ng Grand Knight and he was proud of that.

"Una kong tatawagin ang grupong pupunta sa encampment. Remember, kill everyone there. Wala kayong palalagpasin. Kahit mga bata, siguraduhin ninyong walang matitirang buhay. Ang encampment ang lungga ng mga traydor," panimula ni Kruz.

Hindi makapaniwala si Kilmar sa kanyang naririnig. Kasalukuyan siyang nakagapos sa isang poste sa gilid ng bailey kung saan sila nagti-training doon. Gutay-gutay ang kanyang suot, gutom siya at nauuhaw, at masakit ang buo niyang katawan na puno ng pasa pero malinaw niyang narinig ang instruction ni Kruz sa mga witches at Knights.