亚洲综合中美

The actual uniform wouldn’t arrive until a few centuries ago, in a time were duels between leaders were more respected to a show of numbers. A lonesome village youth, a knight in training, dawned a white outfit on seeing rogues. He bravely fought, slicing heads and arms till white turned brownish red. The king at the time passed and took notice of the young man, the latter was invited to the castle and treated to a feast. There, he was granted the honor of knighthood whilst wearing the first iteration of the uniform. Jealous peers took no hassle in slaying the knighted man before a party of nobles, there, the king decreed, “-wearer of white are those who I, king, have recognized as strong and worthy. The color is for humility, my newly appointed knight was slaughtered before having a chance to prove himself. Therefore, the attackers will be sentenced to death, however, the uniform and the death attached to it will follow as a rite of passage for the strong, the powerful, and the hated.” After those events, many men dawned on the outfit, a good percentage of the wearers accepted duels and kept their honor. Time continued; the meaning evolved into the present.

“Wearer of the Saintly Uniform, Xen,” cried an announcer, the collective atmosphere snapped to the side entrance where he stood arms in arms with Lessie. King Juvey was spotted on an elevated terrace of which gave on the lowered dancefloor. Stairways coated in red carpet carried one stage to the next. As expected, the King stood firmly, the glare strongly onto the dance hall.

No introduction was made about Lessie, “-follow me,” gestured Scorpio, by how the body faced forth, he motioned towards the King’s platform.

“Rude,” commented Xen.

“No, not really,” she breathed, carefully catching the deviant stare at her, “-women don’t have much authority in Old Cray’s kingdom. Hidros and Alphia are different, I heard women lead major companies, especially Lady Elvira, even here, stories about her fights and takeovers are awesome. You should really read the epic written about the Haggard Dynasty. No idea how much is true, but still, it’s amazing to see how a single person could rise above everything and stand at the top.”

“The Epics of the Haggard Dynasty,” he narrowed, “-mention about the writer?”

.....

“Serene?”

“Right,” he exhaled, “-sure, let us read it sometime.” The peculiarly sharp turns, after passing under chandeliers, climbed to the first layer were stood the king, behind whom extended large, florally engraved doors giving into a glimpse of hedges.

“Majesty,” bowed Scorpio, the duo followed and respectfully gave their regards.

“Scorpio, kindly take my cousin on a visit outside,” said Juvey in an ominously cheerful mood. Who wouldn’t be, for he carried the prettiest flower in the room on his dominant right-arm, Queen Ela. There laid an air of mystic around her visage and her expression, ‘-she’s high, and so is he,’ a quick look at the fingers revealed specks of white, ‘-angel’s dust. The king’s on a trip with the fairies.’ Lessie reluctantly shuffled away, her worried stare shot at Xen. Scorpio inconspicuously threw a thumbs up to his side, ‘-better trust than worry.’

“Xen,” thundered the King, “-how do you enjoy the party?”

“Enjoyment after I was tortured on baseless accounts. Tell me, King Juvey was the war truly real – the man said you used innocent people to stage a siege and had your forces invade and commit genocide. Was it true?”

“No tact,” he dropped his arm, whispered into Ela’s ears, she nodded and strode to a gathering of ladies-in-waiting, “-follow me.” Before much longer, they took to the second layer, guards at the foot of the stairs were menacingly attentive. The upper floor was reserved to only important guests, a literal way of saying, ‘-we’re higher than the common,’ after passing over the lovely tiled floor, a double-door slid into the open and over a nice view of the main entrance.

“Xen, any ideas why you’re wearing the uniform?”

“Sawdia hinted at the history, why, does it matter? Don’t change the subject, we’re here to discuss what Onte did.”

“I know, I know,” he moved and grabbed the handle, “-Xen, I’m a merciless ruler, a tyrant. If nothing goes my way, I use force and take what I want. I’ve grown up in a place where only strength gives respect – you, on the other hand,” he spun and sat on iron bars, “-I don’t know, can’t figure it out. The way you speak and sometimes challenge me, if anyone else used that tone, they’d be hanged. Something about you, I don’t know, I don’t feel least annoyed, instead, the change is a nice breath of fresh air. Burning down the stables, killing my men, and still, we talk as if nothing happened,” he paused – headlights moved along the road, the fountain lit vibrantly. “-Onte did what he had to. He’s been loyal and very close-minded about who we hire. The man hates newcomers, can’t blame the man. You healed well, therefore, no need for apologies. The uniform is a chance to prove yourself before the cutthroat society I created. After being knighted, you’ll become a noble, low ranking, but noble nevertheless.”

“Why?”

“To safeguard the queen. I need an escort at her side, someone to watch and answer my demand. She’s half-awake, her personality’s gone – the body craves only narcotics. Consider her a mindless doll for my associates. The proud and gallant Queen of Elendor, tis a shame the emperor has his hands wrapped around her neck.”

“Majesty,”

“Yes?”

“The requests – am I allowed to challenge people?”

“No,” he returned, “-the uniform stands there to be a shield, not a spear. You’re powerful, perhaps stronger than I am in hand-to-hand combat. The years have passed me, anyway,” he moved to the entrance, “-comrade, best of luck.”

Thus, Xen stayed behind and gathered his thoughts – ‘-Juvey trusts me?’ he narrowed, ‘-the fellow’s a good man in his own way. He’s a comrade to Xen, not Igna – the game has begun, who knows how it’ll end.’ Bell rang, marking the start of the knighting ceremony. ‘He deflected answering questions about the war.’

Soldiers lined the dance floor, a red carpet split through the middle and ended at the throne where sat the King. Nobles joyously stood on the first and second floors, casting subjective thoughts amidst themselves – exchange of whispers and biased remarks.

Scorpio stood firm at the King’s side. He rose, “-attention,” exclaimed the general, the troops shook the room with the gesture, “-welcome to the end of war celebration, the battle against the revolutionists ends with us as victors. Many loyal men were lost in the battle, good men with families and loved ones, sacrificed themselves for the peace of the kingdom. To them, we salute,” hands to their temples “-in death, may their spirits carry their bravery and loyalty.”

“At ease,” shouted the general.

“The battle of Ezbon, the end of the war, was won by the wit and strength of a single man; one who turned misfortune into his favor. A follower of the path of the warrior, Xen,” to which, he broke from the first line and shuffled to where the king stood, “-if not for him, the battle would have dragged, and more good soldiers would have died for naught,” they stared one another, no strenuous aura nor tenseness around the king, a novelty in the eyes of many careful observers, “-for the efforts shown, Xen, I, King Juvey, grant thee a medal of bravery and bestow the title of Knight.” The room gasped, none knew of the decision, and a lot of envious factions snarled. The ritual involved drawing blood and smearing it onto the uniform. Depending on the wound the King takes, it equally reflects the trust he has in the knight. The shock surprised everyone, King Juvey slit his palm and placed it on Xen’s heart, drawing upward to the shoulders, “-Xen, from today forth, thou art a knight of the crown.”

“The mark of Relz,” commented Lessie, “-a death sentence,” she gasped, “-the symbol means the King trusted Xen to carry the burden.”

“The greatest honor a soldier or noble for that matter. He’s a foreigner, I doubt the loyalist will see this as a cause for celebrations. The King’s truly merciless, and weirdly enough, he looks pleased.”

“Trust,” said Lessie, “-Juvey trusts him. I can’t believe I’m saying this, the king trusts Xen... a complete stranger.”

“I know, he doesn’t trust anyone else, but him,” narrowed a man with white silvery-blond hair, there laid an air of superiority and bliss attached to him, a feeling of elevation and salvation. It hurt to stare at the man squarely. The dance floor freed to host Xen; the rite of acceptance was about to start.

‘A strong aura,’ he blinked, ‘-there’s someone with powers beyond that of a normal human,’ a few scans landed on a silvery-haired man, the latter smirked and vaulted – white wings carried his fall, “-you,” he pointed, “-you’re a strong one, aren’t you?”

Juvey, stricken by pure horror, dropped on one knee whilst the rest of the entourage bowed with forehead to the floor. No whisper, not a single out-of-place breath. The unknown figure echoed till a one-on-one stare off, “-Xen,” he narrowed, “-or should I say,” came a whisper, “-Igna, the devil of Glenda. Rather, the title of Watcher of the Shadow Realm suits best?”

Unshaken by the confrontation, “-pleasure is mine, Lucifer.”

“My,” he fluttered away, “-tell me, are you wise to fight a god?”

“Fight a god?” he smirked, “-I’m wise enough to pick my battles. Like you, Lucifer, I care less for a meaningless display of power. You’re the bane of my existence, the mastermind behind the attacks on me and my family, the constant barrage of intrigue, it’s all you...”

“No, no,” he laughed, “-not true, I asked my companions to make your life hell. For example,” a finger rose to strangle and raise Ela, “-I know you want to rescue her. Don’t worry, they can’t hear us.”

“Lucifer,” Igna’s arm crossed, “-today isn’t the day we battle.”

“Why not, are you weak?” *snap,* “-Realm expansion: Ethereal Sea of Truth,” a curtain of white crashed, raw mana pulled at his feet, circling up his body.

“No, you’ll lose,” *Watchers, spectators, names ring high and low, us, unknown to the world’s reality, unknown to the world’s knowledge, have lived in utter solemness for millennia to come and go. Watcher of the Shadow Realm, beckons my might to be fully materialized without prejudice, reality is but my playground, neither god nor demon shall overcome my authority, face me in stride, face me in fear, reality’s what I wish it to be for knowledge is the true strength: Realm Expansion Shadow Realm Variant – Rantiam.*

“A puny realm of a nightwalker... do you think?”

“No, I don’t think,” both realms clashed, “-I know,” sheer power from the core exploded and to swallow Lucifer’s realm, “-you should know, thief, my true title is Alfred, the Cursed King, devourer of angels and harbinger of misfortune. Heed my word, as a fallen angel, I can rip you to shreds and assimilate thy powers. You’re weak, I’ve reached the summit, neither God nor demon will ever lay a hand on me, for I am the cursed soul of a rejected entity,” *snap,* his wing’s snapped as if twigs, “-return to thy realm, Lucifer. Now isn’t the time for battle.”

“Damn you, ALFRED!”