Shameless One

Alexandra Levison walked slowly out of the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click, leaving Eden's lifeless body resting on the bed. The others stood frozen, their eyes glued to the floor, unable to meet her gaze. Only Shun and Otto seemed unshaken by the scene.

"Let's go, my heroes," she said calmly, though a deep sorrow tinged her voice. "Leave his body where it lies. Tell others that Eden was killed by the terrorists."

Shun, though silent, could feel the weight of what had just happened pressing on him. Alexandra's actions had been brutal, heartless—and yet, there was an underlying reason he couldn't fully grasp. He had no interest in uncovering it now. As far as he was concerned, Alexandra was someone he needed to avoid at all costs.

"But... why?" Silver asked, his voice hesitant, laced with confusion.

Without pausing, Alexandra continued walking, her back turned to them. "As you can tell, I cared about him. I loved him," she replied flatly, her tone leaving little room for further questions.

"And that's why you killed him?" Otto's voice was calm, but Shun noticed a slight tremor in his body, a subtle sign of his unease.

"Yes, you could say that," Alexandra answered without hesitation. "Let's drop this topic. We have more pressing matters ahead of us. The emergence of people wielding multiple ethereal arms, the mention of Antonio Valdis, and the interference of the Starflame Community—these are troubling developments. The war ahead may be as brutal as the Great War itself. Unless we can seek aid from the Eternal Dynasty, we may be facing our end."

Instinctively, the others followed her as she strode out of the central castle of Sila. Shun paused, briefly glancing back at the door where Eden's body lay, an unsettling feeling gnawing at him. Something felt wrong, but he couldn't quite place it.

"We need to return to the capital immediately," Otto said with icy precision. "If the car is still intact, it will take about a day. King Eldran is likely aware of the coming threat, but we still need to prepare for it."

Before anyone could respond, a sudden, blinding flash erupted in the sky—a cross-shaped sword of light, so immense and radiant that it illuminated the entire grey sky. It was impossible to ignore, and the entire kingdom paused to witness its presence in stunned confusion.

Shun felt the world freeze as the light engulfed him, a strange sensation crawling into his mind. It wasn't pain, but it wasn't comfortable either. It was similar to the feeling he felt previously, an eternal moment crammed into an instant. And then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the brilliant sword vanished into nothingness.

Then Shun's head started to ache, and he saw the others grimacing in shared agony. A voice echoed in his mind—a voice familiar, yet distant as if it wasn't a message, but a vivid memory instead.

"Greetings, citizens of Lordrixis," the voice of King Alfred Eldran resonated in his skull, but it sounded different, heavier, "I am Alfred Eldran, your King. To many, I am an acceptable successor to the Crusader King, Nathaniel Heaven. Under my short year of reign, prosperity and peace persevered. If things had remained peaceful, I would have died content, knowing I upheld the kingdom's legacy. But I must disappoint you all. After much reflection, I see myself for what I truly am: a shameless, deceitful man."

"Few know of the truth behind my first complete ethereal arm. To those who questioned its nature, I told them it gave me the ability to transform into anything I desire. But that was a lie—a carefully woven one, to protect the kingdom from distrust and rebellion. The truth, however, should no longer be hidden. The first complete ethereal arm, Manipulator, has the power to reshape memories. I've altered yours now, allowing this conversation to unfold in your mind, as though we've spoken face-to-face."

"Allow me to explain the greater lie that has been upheld by the kingdom—and by the Crusader King Nathaniel Heaven himself. No matter the consequences, I'm ready to reveal the truth to all of you. It is a secret centred around the foundation of our kingdom's existence, the very essence of ethereal arms. These arms, hailed as divine blessings granted by the Crusader King after his victory over the tyrant, are not what we've been led to believe."

"These weapons are not gifts, but relics—relics that once belonged to Kolgwyn himself. The weapons we revere were once his."

"The concept of ethereal arms was not born from Nathaniel Heaven's victory, but from the Tyrant's reign. After Kolgwyn's defeat, the Crusader King took the arms into his possession. To protect the kingdom's peace, to avoid stoking fear and distrust, it was hidden—until now—that the weapons that shape our lives were once the tyrant's tools. The first hundred complete ethereal arms, and one ascended class arm, were stored within a device known as the Distributor. Along with the Harvester, the Distributor was considered the 0th complete ethereal arm."

"With this power, Nathaniel Heaven distributed me the first complete ethereal arm, the Manipulator, and ordered me to erase the truth from every mind in the kingdom. Only he and I knew, and I intended to carry this burden to my grave."

"Why do I share this now? Is it the weight of this secret that has broken me? No. It's because you deserve the truth—especially at this moment."

"After the Tyrant's fall, a man named Antonio Valdis replicated both the Harvester and the Distributor. While he could not recreate the hundred complete ethereal arms, he now wields the power of these two 0th complete ethereal arms. And worse, he has returned, seeking to restore the chaos of Kolgwyn's time under the guise of peace. The Cult of Luca Azoria has already fallen, and several of our border cities have been destroyed without even a chance to send word to the capital."

"Yet, we are not defeated. Not yet."

"I am not here to give a speech about courage or loyalty. I am not asking you to fight for the kingdom or peace. I am here to apologize to all of you, and ask for something far more personal—to start anew with me."

"You will choose your path. Fight against Antonio's forces, if you wish, and, regardless of the outcome, you will stand proud in knowing you fought for peace. Or, you may take the kingdom's transportation to the Eternal Dynasty, where you will be safe and happy under its protection."

"This is not a command. The choice is yours, and yours alone."

"To the citizens of Lordrixis, sorry, thank you, and I wish you all the best in what comes next."

King Eldran's voice slowly faded, his words carrying an unmistakable sorrow that seemed to drain the life from his very being. The throne beneath him still gleamed with opulence, a symbol of his once-unassailable power. Yet, in that moment, he appeared small, diminished. The regal splendour of his seat only highlighted how aged and worn his figure had become.

In the grand hall, the court stood motionless, a collection of officers and influential figures from across the kingdom, Glynn Belkarn, Vergil Killer, and other elite ethereal warriors. At the back of the room stood his son, Albert Eldran. 

The air was thick with silence. No one spoke. The faces of those present were etched with sorrow, their eyes distant and hollow, mirroring the emptiness in the King's heart.

Violet was the first to break the silence. "Alfred," she began, her voice soft but unwavering, "I've been wrong. You might not be a perfect person, but you are a righteous king."

King Eldran didn't answer immediately. When he spoke, his voice was empty, carrying a sorrow that seemed to drown out the surrounding silence. "Why is it that throughout my life, it's always others who decide whether what I do is right or wrong?"

Violet's words, intended as a compliment, now seemed to wound him more deeply than any insult ever had. He didn't even look at her. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, distant and lost.

"I was given my power, the first complete ethereal arm, when I was just four. I thought it was a gift—a sign that I was chosen to wield the strongest weapon, the greatest gift. As I grew older, I thought it was a blessing that I was the next chosen king, directly succeeding the glorious Nathaniel Heaven himself. Then, I also felt fortunate I could do something to cure my mute son. But only after I became the King, did I realise that my life, despite all its so-called good-fortunes, didn't belong to me at all."

"I was a puppet, moulded and controlled by Nathaniel Heaven, chosen not for my abilities, but for my malleability. I was meant to be the perfect king, a peaceful figurehead who could maintain the kingdom's legacy."

"But this time, I want to define right and wrong for myself. I want to make my own decisions, just as I hope the people of this kingdom will."

"I will fight, not for peace, not for the kingdom, not for the people, but for myself."

Among the officers, Jaylen Shielram stared at the king. He couldn't tell whether the King was talking to them, or whispering to his own heart.