Soul Interaction: Chain! (ENG)

16 • One Step away from a Cursed Continent

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As soon as I came back, the day before, I told everything to Lunim and the other members of the League. I was satisfied with the rulers' willingness to accept the covenant, but I was equally frightened by the direction in which the situation was turning. But there was one thing that reassured me. Avaloria was still waiting for help, so it wouldn't attack in the short term. I could be comfortable about Eimin's safety, but I didn't have sweet dreams that day...
Afterwards I, Lunim, and seven members of the League were accompanied by Aleria to the court. The carriage wasn't big enough for everyone, so the others stood at the hospice. I didn't know what the king and the queen had to do, but they did not receive us immediately. We waited outside their palace for a while.
«King of Triosa, concerning what I said yesterday, please don't say anything about it. I shouldn't have told you.» Aleria said me. She seemed a little sorry to have revealed information of some relevance.
«Don't worry, I didn't mean to do it anyway.» I answered calmly...
So, at that moment, as soon as we finished talking, what looked like a royal guard came out:
«The king of Triosa is welcomed by the king and queen.» He said with solemn tone.
Having Aleria and Lunim accompany me, I entered the court.
The interior was presented with a long red carpet coming to the feet of the two thrones. The gold decorations made everything very royal; statues and frescoes represented an art form never before seen on the continent. The busts of previous rulers, carved into the wall, adorned the pilasters around the architecture. The tension of the present was consumed by the paintings, which made the atmosphere evocative. A so splendid vision was rare to see in Aostra.
I bowed before the rulers, they did the same.
«Goldora Nustier, king of Triosa, welcome to Shiitia.» The king made his way down the throne, steps with his wife.
«The honour is all ours, your majesty.» I also answered for Lunim.
«Come on.» Said the Queen looking at Aleria. So they started walking to another room. We followed them. We entered a room not as royal as the main hall, but still enviable by most aristocrats. We seated at a table with something to eat and something to sip.
«We are curious to know why you want an alliance.» The queen answered. Most likely, they were certainly aware of the reason why I wanted to sign it, but they would have wanted to be certain.
«Avaloria made use of a war of terror that has already spread to a large part of Aostra. If we join, we could reduce the damage to both our nations and sterilize Avaloria.» I answered trying to be as convincing as possible.
«That's enough. Tell us, do you know why Avaloria is delaying the attack so much?» The king asked both of them.
«We have suspicions, but no certainty. To restore order in Triosa we had to work internally, unfortunately, we could not keep up with the continental events as we would have liked.» Lunim answered.
I couldn't have said it better. This answer was not entirely true, I could have sent men to analyze the situation, but using as an excuse to have to tidy up the shortcomings of the previous monarch, Lunim managed to get a positive reaction.
«It's understandable. So, we don't have good news to tell you. Avaloria, via the maritime borders of Elandria, is obtaining military aid from Moritania. In this way it could obtain a much larger army than it already has.» Answered the king.
He seemed worried, on the other hand, how to blame him.
«And it is precisely for this reason that the alliance is the fundamental piece of this war. Avaloria is ruled by a ruthless king, who would use any means to achieve his own foolish ideals. War frightens even the bravest of warriors, the most valiant of men, I am frightened too, our whole nation is scared, but we cannot back down. To hear that it is getting military aid worries me, we do not have much time to counter attack, so... We should be the first to attack.» I answered. All the people there looked at me, as if to call me crazy, but I was sure of what I was saying.
«The king is just waiting to organize his army, so we will attack him even before he can do it. My goal is to stop the war and kill the king. He will most likely be in Avaloria during the battle, as he always has. Meanwhile, our armies will attack the Avalorian territories, I, however, will challenge him alone.» I continued. The looks seemed to have faded.
«It seems to me a good basis from which to start. I can send men to scout where the army is positioned, we will attack it, while you kill that madman. But I need at least three days.» The queen countered.
«Excellent, then. Tomorrow we will announce our alliance in the public square. King of Triosa, it would be better if you stayed here during these three days. So, as soon as we have news, we could be much more efficient.» Added the king.
I accepted. The meeting ended, Aleria escorted us out, then we headed to the hospice that we had left a few hours earlier. As soon as I got into the carriage, I took a feather, some ink and a papyrus, I should have sent a letter to Eimin to warn her that I would stop at Shiitia for a few more days. I was sorry to make this decision, I would have left my sister even less protected, but it was the best choice. As soon as I was finished, it seemed to me that I had seen something again. A flame had struck one of the two horses. Without thinking, I took Aleria in my arms and jumped off the wagon before it could burn.
«What's going on?» Asked the frightened daughter of the rulers. Nothing good was foreseen in that situation.
«Nothing to worry about.» Lunim replied, trying to look carefully into the fog. Shortly after a silhouette appeared, for the third time, Meta appeared before our eyes.
I was ready to fight, but there was no way in the world that I could leave Aleria wounded.
One of the members of the league put his hand on my chest.
«Don't worry, my king. It's our duty to fight him, isn't it? Run away with the royal girl. We'll take care of him.» He said.
There were seven of them, I wasn't sure they could reach the strength level of Meta, but I didn't have a moment of hesitation. I took Aleria in my arms and fled as quickly as possible. At that moment I heard his voice:
«No, Goldora, this time you won't escape me.»
After hearing it, I could not see anything. What my eyes perceived was only a black field.