Setosolace: The Kingdom's Sorcerer-AU

Chapter 5: Invasion Plan

~Quick note: Thank you all so much for over a hundred reads! I feel so honored to have my work be read by such a great fandom. <3 Now, onward to Chapter 5!~

As they approached a large set of doors, the Kweh guarding them pushed them open, revealing a surprisingly small room with two couches on either side of a coffee table. The floor had the same marble as the front room, white and laced with maroon. A window took up most of the back wall, stained light yellows and blues.

"Make yourselves at home," Choco chirped, plopping down on a couch. Seto and Brice collapsed on the other across from him. Choco scanned over them. "Are you guys alright?"

Seto sighed. "We ran into some trouble on the way here. Some bandits are going around trying to kill people and steal their stuff. We fought them off, but they got away."

Choco narrowed his eyes, thinking. "We did get reports of suspicious people, but none about actual theft or threat."

Brice was suddenly hit by a weirdness when he thought back on the criminals. But why. . .?

Seto leaned back onto the cushioned, golden couch. "Now that I think about it, they really did only target Brice. . ."

Brice sat up suddenly, saying, "I remember hearing their voices. They actually were. . .warriors, like me. They weren't as high as a rank, but they were still really good and loyal. To think they'd resort to this. . . . And then there's the fact that I was the only one to escape, surely. I had seen them earlier that day, with the king."

"So, could that mean they were sent away, specifically to target you?" Seto inquired, worriedly glancing over to Brice. 

Brice returned his gaze, slowly asking, "Who is this Rakaphen?"

Seto and Choco exhaled heavily. Seto looked down at the floor, muttering, "Do you want to know why I was getting those looks as we walked through Balamb?" (A/N: "Do you want to know how I got these scars?" Sorry, I had to.) He looked to Brice for encouragement and continued after he cautiously nodded. "The last time this kingdom needed me, it was because Rakaphen tried to overthrow King Choco with nothing but his own evil sorcery. Luckily, I had sensed the extreme use of magic and teleported to the castle as he was about to unleash his deadly blasts of magic. I used my own power, as much as I could, which resulted in both stopping Rakaphen and nearly doing as much damage as he could've done.

"He probably wanted to duel me because he knew I was stronger and could do his work for him. Fortunately for everyone I led him away from the kingdom and not too much could have been done. They still saw how I fought, however. What I could do, what I did do. . . . It was either that, or several deaths, including King Choco's, and I couldn't let that happen."

Brice rested a hand on Seto's shoulder, startling him. "You did the right thing, even if the civilians can't see that. They don't understand the situation."

Choco chimed in. "I, and several others, would've died without your help, Seto." 

Seto looked up at the two, giving a shy smile and a quick nod. "Well, I guess we should focus on the situation at hand. Brice," Brice turned to him with attention, and he continued, "you said you knew those guards?" 

"Yes, they were very loyal and did anything for King Carnassial." 

"Then there was a reason they approached us. How else would they have been freed from Rubicon? It had to have been something to do with Rakaphen. Maybe he has your king hostage, which let him order those guards to go after us. Which would mean. . ."