The Five Kings: First Step

Hopian 40 - Morals

Last chapter, the "heroes" went to Abigail's family shop in order to trade their loot, and deduced that if Virile is defeated, then he will lose his status as the mayor of Birzion. And so, they declare that they themselves will take down the tyrant, although each of them have different motives for doing so.

Seric's P.O.V.

"Damn it, I want to say something about not wanting to help fight Virile, but just look at Abigail's face..." I think to myself nervously as Abigail is chatting away with her parents who are behind the gray counter, with both of them having big smiles on their faces, ones full of hope most likely.

"Well shit, that's gonna be interesting." Karia says as she sits back in her red cushioned black metal chair, staring up at the crumbly white popcorn ceiling for some reason.

"Hm?" I respond as I look to where she's staring, and lo and behold a giant screen is hanging from the ceiling via metal rods. On the screen, the giant stone prison me and Karia escaped from, Vegahold, is on display as a person wearing a blue suit stands on the vast smooth gray rock in front of it in broad daylight. Under the video footage a blue bar with white text is displayed which states "The Holidays Unite As One Once Again."

"Uh, what does that mean?" I ask in complete confusion.

"What it says, The Four Holidays, AKA the four commanders of the Hopian Army, are having an actual important meeting for the first time in two years." Karia says as she looks down towards me across the table.

"Oh wait hold on, so this has to do with those "Four Holidays" Popshot was telling me about before... And more importantly, shit so there really is three other people as strong as that "Halloween" girl?!" I ask nervously but with intrigue as I lean forward a bit uneasily.

"Oh so that kid told you about them huh, that helps. And no, actually there's only two more people as strong as her now, after all, Erucid... Erucid was killed by that monster. Anyways, there technically is three right now, if you're counting the leader of the Hopian Army himself, although he's definitely stronger than her for sure." Karia says sounding sad for a moment but luckily literally shaking it off a moment later with the movement of her head as she takes a drink of her still steaming tea.

"Shit I didn't even think of the leader himself, how the hell are we supposed to fight against them?!" I think to myself shakily as I turn back towards the T.V.

"What kind of, uh, reason do you think they have for coming together after all of this time?" I ask as I look down again and take a sip of my own tea, which is a bit too bitter for my own liking but, it'll do.

"Losing one of the Four Holidays is an obvious one, other than that I really don't know, could be something else that the Hopian Army already covered up and the public doesn't know about." Karia says as she takes a sip of her own mug.

"Ahem! Sorry miss but we decided to live on Birzion for a reason, I know you defended my daughter but we will not tolerate any depressing talk about the corruptness of Hopian in this household!" An angry but quiet voice sounds, and looking in the direction it came from Abigail's mother stands behind us with her hands on her hips, trying to look tough I presume but failing to do so with her... lackluster physique.

Karia only looks at me and subtly rolls her eyes which I let a quick chuckle out at.

"Mom, please stop, you're embarrassing me!" Abigail complains as she sits at the table with us and pulls her sunhat down in front of her eyes, but her mother remains undettered.

"Nope! We-we've already had Virile haunting us, so the last thing we need is a reminder of how helpless this territory really... really is!" Abigail's mom finishes as tears start to leak from her eyes, with said daughter of course standing up and going to hug her.