Soul Cursed Protector

King Edward had been locked away in the war room for days, barely coming out to eat or drink, unless it was his favorite wine offered to him. He had been desperately trying to figure out a way to defend the city of Drasal from the Dark Knights, if they decided to descend upon them. His blades power returning still wasn’t enough to protect his kingdom. King Edwards sickness had finally caught up to him, he found himself ailing further and getting weaker by the day. With his chamberlain clamoring for more power, he felt as though the only person he could trust was his First Knight Alistair. However that would prove to be King Edwards most fatal mistake in not realizing how much his First Knight had changed.

“King Edward.” a voice called out, then there was a knock at the door. Whoever this person was, they surely wasn’t going to give up. “Are you in there?”

“Who dares to disturb me after I have given strict orders to leave me be.” King Edward barked. “It is I, Lord Alistair. There are some pressing matters that need to be discussed.”

King Edward barely had the strength to stand, but still he had to show a strong front even if it was Alistair. “You may enter.” Edward stood to greet his knight when he walked into the room.

“King Edward.” Alistair knelt down to show the King respect even if he didn’t mean it. He watched with a faint smile on his face as King Edward stumbled his way over to him. Edward is weaker than ever, my time to act is drawing near.

“None of that.” King Edward gave a weak smile. “Lets skip the formalities. Please explain what

is so important that you had to interrupt me.”

“I have something to show you at the Academy.” Alistair answered as he stood back up. “It concerns the Dark Knights.” he knew that anything involving the Dark Knights would draw the Kings ire. Which in turn would make King Edward follow Alistair to the ends of the earth if need be.

King Edwards eyes burned with rage, and he felt some of the energy of old returning. “Lead the

way.”

“As you wish.” Alistair smirked.

Alistair lead King Edward into the Academy, “What is it that you wanted to show me, Lord Alistair?” King Edward inquired.

“One shall see soon enough, your Majesty.” Alistair hid the faint chuckle. He lead King Edward into the meeting room where the Headmaster and others would usually meet to discuss what missions students should go on with their masters. However Alistair and Caine had been using the room for other purposes, ever since Caine had taken over as the new Headmaster of the Academy nothing had been the same. “Do you recognize what these are?” Alistair pointed to a large table at the center of the room.

King Edward walked over to the table and had seen two pieces of a broken blade and a hilt laying on top. “I do not understand.” King Edward said. “What does this have to do with the Dark Knights?”

“Why don’t you take a closer look at what is before you.” Alistair laughed.

King Edward looked closer at the hilt of the broken blade, he gasped at seeing the symbol of a serpent coiled around it. “It cannot be.”

“Oh but it is.” Alistair’s eyes grew wide. “And I only need two more pieces to complete it.” “How could you have found them? Better yet, how could you get past the trials?” King Edward

questioned.

“There are skilled warriors here at this Academy.” Alistair answered. “I have no need to tell you

any more than that.”

“I am still your King, or have you forgotten that?” King Edward scowled.

Alistair chuckled, “You are but a weak and feeble old man, not even fit to be called a leader of men, nor King for that matter.” he loathed the man that stood before him. “Do not worry though, once you are gone I shall lead the kingdom of Drasal, and show the other cities what true power really is.

Thus a new world shall be born.” “With you leading the helm.” “Exactly.”

“When did my First Knight become such a tyrant?” King Edward frowned. “Tyrant?” Alistair smirked. “You have me all wrong, for I am a man of vision.”

“No, you crave nothing more than power.” King Edward snarled. “The Alistair I know would never succumb to such greed, nor would he place his ego above all else.”

“The Alistair you know has gone.” he smirked. “And soon you will be at peace and rejoin your fallen comrades in the afterlife.” Alistair unsheathed his newly acquired blade that he had gotten from Baird’s lifeless corpse.

“Baird’s blade!” King Edward gasped. “He would rather die than to let another touch that sword.”

Alistair looked at the blade gleefully, “Baird did put up quiet the fight.” he smiled. “In the end though I showed him mercy by ending his pathetic existence.”

“How could you?” King Edward bellowed. “Baird treated you like a son.”

“I grow tired of this conversation, lets say we finish this shall we?” Alistair said. “The time of preparation draws near, you see it won’t be long before I have the last reaming pieces of the Reaper Blade. To bad you won’t be here to see it complete again.”

King Edward had the look of sadness upon his face, “You intend to use the Reaper Blade to

control the Dark Knights, and you need the Kings Defender to make those plans a reality.” he unsheathed his blade, glaring a hole through Alistair. “It saddens me that it has come to this.” King Edward looked away, ashamed of the man that stood in front of him. “I have no choice but to end you before you can unleash such evil into this world.” the king lunged at Alistair trying to end the fight before it could even start.

Alistair dodged the oncoming attack with ease not even trying to attempt a counter attack of his own. “Why don’t you just give up and die with grace?” he smiled. “We shall give you a hero’s funeral of the grandest scale, you will be able to keep you honor intact.”

“There is no honor in laying down like a dog for scum like you.” King Edward said with pride swinging his blade through the air, barely missing Alistair’s head.

Alistair shook his head with displeasure, “I offer you a hero’s death and this is how you thank me?” he was getting agitated with King Edward at that point. “You are no longer deserving to hold such power in your grasp.” he said looking at the King’s Defender, that Edward held tight in his hands.

“I will show you why this blade chose me as its master.” King Edward used the King’s Defenders powers one last time. That choice meant giving his own life, but that was a sacrifice he was willing to make for his kingdom, and the world of Todrain. King Edward lifted the blade high above his head and started to chant, as he did so the Kings Defender started to glow a bright blue. “May the gods have mercy on your dark soul.” he brought the blade down towards Alistair, but before he could finish the attack King Edward felt something cold pierce his back. The pain was so unbearable that it caused King Edward to drop his sword, he felt the urge to keep fighting but his strength was leaving him.

Caine walked up with his bow in hand kicking King Edward to the floor from behind, “Shall I finish him off, Lord Alistair?”

Alistair held up his hand, “Not yet.” he said. “I want him to realize that he has failed before he dies.” he knelt and retrieved the King’s Defender for his own. Now he was standing looking down at

King Edward. “You look surprised and yet confused all at the same time.” he grinned from ear to ear. “Did you already poison Caine’s mind as well?” King Edward coughed.

“Nobody poisoned my mind.” Caine answered. “I chose my path a long time ago.” “Doesn’t that hurt to know that Caine chose me over his King?” Alistair laughed.

“Can we just finish this already.” Caine hissed. “I have some important matters to attend to.” “Kill me if you wish.” King Edward started to laugh, “Your fates shall be worse than my own.”

Alistair swung the blade down, not once, not twice, but three times, cutting King Edwards head from his shoulders, “His words were getting old to me.” he shrugged, turning his attention back to Caine. Alistair showed no emotion for killing the man he once called friend, and King. “Do you have any word as yet on Gawain and his students?”

“There was news that they were in the area that a powerful weapon was used between two warring kingdoms.” Caine answered.

“Did they survive?”

“Not sure.” Caine shrugged. “That’s all the scouts know as of now.”

“What kind of weapon?” Alistair asked, sheathing the King’s Defender as his own like he had done with Baird’s sword.

“It was the Reaper Cannon.”

“Seems King Adan finally got his hands on the weapon he desired most.” “So it would seem.” Caine agreed.

“Send a messenger to Odrela, I would like a word with King Adan.”

“As you wish my lord.” Caine bowed. Afterwards he looked down at the headless body of King Edward. “What do we do with him?”

“Feed the body to the war dogs.”

“What about the hero’s funeral?” Caine laughed.

“Is that not a grand funeral for such a weak and feeble man.” Alistair also laughed. “The dogs are especially hungry today, it won’t take them long to devour the corpse.”

“Good. I shall leave you to it then.” Alistair smiled. “Before I go though, I would like for you to have this.” he reached out to hand over Baird’s sword to Caine. “Now that I am going to be King, I need a First Knight of my own. That position now belongs to you.”

Caine held out the his hands, humbly accepting Alistair’s gift. “Thank you, King Alistair. It is an honor to serve you.” he smiled. “One last thing though, what shall we do about the Academy? Now that I am your First Knight, we will need a new Headmaster.”

“Hmm.” Alistair rubbed his chin as he thought deeply about the situation. “Let us not act until the others return with the last pieces of the Reaper Blade, then shall we decide the fate of the Academy.”

Caine sheathed his new trophy and smiled happily, he was now a knight, and a first knight at that. “I shall take care of what is before me first and foremost. Just let me know when the time to act is near, remember I am always at your disposal, King Alistair.”

Before Alistair walked off he had one more job for Caine to take care of, “Lord Caine, announce to the people of Drasal that a new King will be crowned tomorrow night.” he smiled. “Tell them all is invited to the crowning.”

“That sounds delightful.” Caine bowed before his new King.