Tidal Florette - A Painted Soul I

Favian - 56

"Don't worry Mister Beaumont, we'll fend him off while you escape with the Empress. There's only one of him and two of us!" Elio readies his spear, poised to intercept the warden's approach.

Urso clangs his own spear against Elio's helmet. "He's approaching with other wardens, we're cornered here."

Favian has hidden himself behind the guards, but he knows it's too late. The wardens wouldn't be coming if they didn't already see him. There's no way out of this he can see. One wrong turn may be getting me executed after all.

Lykke pushes his way through and smirks proudly with a stroke of his beard. "Lost your way fleeing the city, your highness? With a fugitive, no less?"

Hayate stands firmly, "Councilman Lykke, we need to evacuate these people immediately–"

"Oh I will, but it seems they are not very interested in you leading them any longer. Why would that be?"

An angered voice shouts from the crowd. "They're stalling to feed us to a night god!"

"No, they're too foolish for that, their rule has been a disgrace!"

"Their mother never would have let a monster kill us all!"

Lykke smiles menacingly, "My my, you've upset them more than I thought. Are you ready to call off your sea dog?"

Hayate's fists clench. "Why would I want the palace destroyed?! The gods don't take orders from me."

"No one should!"

"Failure!"

Lykke shakes his head. "An excuse to attempt to leave yourself blameless. The council of light has long tolerated your dealings with that minor deity, but no longer will your blasphemy plague the realm." He draws his sword.

Urso growls as he keeps his spear steady. "This is treason!"

"What say the people?!" Lykke turns to the crowd. "Do you still bow before Hayate Okami?! I see no throne. I see no palace."

"Heretic!"

"Crownless wench!"

Favian moves before sense can stop him. He grabs a small rock off the ground and rushes Lykke while he's turned toward the crown, striking his head as hard as he can. Lykke stumbles forward as the crowd jeers, but he turns around and sees Favian standing there and spits at the ground in disgust. "Pathetic..."

I don't know how to fight... do I hit him again? That didn't do anything... Favian takes a couple steps back anxiously as Lykke walks up and drives his fist into Favian's stomach. Favian doubles over in pain, but Lykke grabs his throat and lifts him off the ground before throwing him aside back at the others.

Hayate hurries over and takes his hand. Favian coughs as he struggles to catch his breath. "I'm sorry your highness..."

Lykke laughs. "My good people, you have suffered the Dawnthrone's complacency long enough! Take up arms and end its reign once and for all. May the Ignited Temple take its rightful place at the head of the realm!"

The crowd slowly starts moving in, some with weapons drawn. Urso and Elio try to blockade around them, but Favian knows they can't possibly fend off this many men. Someone throws a rock that dings off of Urso's armor. Lykke raises his sword, preparing to strike the guards down.

Suddenly, from the back of the crowd appears Raelyn riding a wave of sand through the air faster than a horse's gallop. "HAYATE!"

He throws himself into the air and crashes down in front of Lykke. Before the warden can speak Raelyn smashes a pillar of sand into him, knocking him off his feet into the crowd. A brassy glow reverberates around him as he draws his sword and shouts. "Give thanks to your god for my oath or none of you would still breathe."

The city wall opens behind them, Favian feels the ground underneath him lift him off the ground as sand carries the four of them quickly out of the city with Raelyn close behind and the wall closed off.

Once they've been carried well away from the wall to a deserted farm. Raelyn immediately hurries to check if Hayate has been harmed. "Empress are–"

Hayate pushes his hand back and turns away. "Don't call me that!"

Raelyn is speechless.

They look out at the burning capital, the crumbled remains of her ancestors' home. "The Dawnthrone has fallen... there is no empress... I failed them."