Chapter 33 - The Fallen King

After lory let him go from her embrace, she left Zhao Li Xin continued to examine all the weapons in the room. Meanwhile, Zhao li Xin needs a moment before his brain functions normally again. The princess doesn't know what she had done her attention is focus to the weapon on the table, Lory admitted compare to jewelry she more familiar with weapon and armor she never been raised as a glasshouse flower, all she ever remembered since she was a kid she already trained by Fargo and Fredhard she spent most her days in training room together with Lucas at that time Lory was forbidden to use her healing power for her or Lucas she end up black and blue from the training only after the training is finish she was allowed to use her healing power.

Lory never knew that she was raised differently from other Princess in another country when she realizes she already used with this kinda lifestyle fortunately Fredhard also embedded Royal etiquette to her and Lucas without they even realize it. Fargo teaches her how to be a warrior while Fredhard teaches her minds to think as a Ruler but compare to Lucas they are more 'gentle' with Lory, well who told him to born as a Man.

Lory hand unconsciously float above the weapon, this is how 'Gifted' people choose or assess their weapon they can feel the power inside the weapon and if they feel the affinity between them and the weapon they would choose that weapon, how affinity feels like? it's different for everyone's, some said it's like a whisper, other said it's like a magnet other even feel like small electrocuted but for Lory it feels like she was drawn by it, she could never explain it clearly but no one does, not like cultivating who is more easy to control and explain, 'Gift' is more intangible people said learning about 'Gift' is like learning to 'Loved' for the first time, even though people had theory about it but mostly everything is done by instinct and 'Gift' is hard to control who knew how many people died from 'The awakening' this is the situation when the power emerges for the first time and sadly this happened mostly when they are five to six years old, it would appear like sudden burst the stronger their 'Gift' the less their chance to survive. Fortunately, Mana Controler is created in Harland and saves many people including Lory and Lucas who was born with powerful 'Gift'.

Zhao Li Xin watches Lory's hand hovered around the weapon while she looks like in a dazed, he can't help feeling curious about her "You seem inclined to weaponry than jewelry?" Zhao Li Xin asked.

"More like….familiar…" she answers with half dazed

"You knew how to used a weapon?" Zhao Li Xin tries his luck to probe her.

Lory smiled helplessly "I had to….." her hand still hovered around the weapon, her focus remains on the weapon around her.

"You had to?"

"I don't hate it though...."Lory hand stop above the small twin red dagger, she can feel her hand twitch a little bit. She caresses the dagger gently her eyelashes fluttering she can feel the surged of energy creeping to her finger, her mouth curved upwards although the affinity is not one hundred percent but it finds for now. Lory grab the dagger handle she fiddle the dagger between her finger skillfully her movement is fast and smooth like an expert, Lory test the weapon balance and sharpness, nothing is out of place the dagger is perfect, Lory smiled with satisfied look "Can I have it?" she plead innocently, she don't realize a surprise looks on Zhao Li Xin eyes.

Zhao Li Xin takes a deep breath to calm himself "Sure!" he replied calmly.

"Thank you" Lory smile happily, she thought she would ask him to make a weapon but then she found this 'cute' dagger, it's saved her a lot of trouble.

Meanwhile Zhao Li Xin uncovered another lead about his little savior, from the way she handles the weapon he was sure that Lory proficient in martial art but she can't cultivate, there is no a shred of Qi flowing around her then again where she learned to handle a weapon like that, the news about her, only show she never went anywhere after she left her village she worked at Lao Manor for years.

This discovery only brings more question then answered, seems like his savior is a lot more mysterious than he though but doesn't matter whoever she is in the past it won't change the fact she was the same woman he met that day the one who saves him.

"Ri Yi I will go downstairs to fix my weapon you can come with me or stay here"

Lory look around there still more she wants to see, she hasn't gone to the second floor yet "I will stay here for a while"

"Okay, be careful not carelessly touch anything" he warned her again.

"I won't!" Lory nodded her head obediently.

Zhao Li Xin left her alone in the room, Lory went to the second floor and found shield, bow, and arrow also a few old books about armament weapon that she couldn't understand. She spends her time examining the weapon one by one even though she did not touch it but just by the look of it it's look beautifully made, she can't believe how skillful Zhao Li Xin is.

Time is getting late and Lory begins to yawn, she can't get out by herself she worries about the array outside and she doesn't want to bother Zhao Li Xin while he was working, she decides to wait him finish his job. She found a long couch on the corner near a big wooden shelf when she sits on the couch she starts to feel sleepy and a minuted later her consciousness drift away.

______________________________________________________

That day in winter the snow falling heavily, she was 18 years old when she returned to Harland after she runaway a year ago, she heard from the news about her country from television who reported the situation of her homeland, Nazareth is mystical beast the descendant of the 'First Kind' in form of black Dragons with two head in a size of mountain with gigantic horn on his head he sleeping under the Fehrer mountain for thousands of years, suddenly he wakes up and attack everything he saw like madness. Nazareth even managed to destroy the King shield who had been protected their country for centuries, no one knew how could that beast become so strong.

She remembered that day so vividly when she returned everything is burning and people are running and screaming, she remembered the heat from the fired and scorched corpses everywhere, Lory sees four years old girl crying in front of the corpse she calling her mother repeatedly, suddenly the building above the Kid falling.

"NOOO!!" She rushes to the kid and hold her in her arms while her wings shield both of them the purple light immerged like transparent shield covering them from the ruins then she flew from the scene while holding the little kid she land in the safest area where she found a lot of refugees protected by the King's Men.

"Princess Lorient!!" one of the King's men shouted and every King's men bow to her courteously

Lory Put down the little girl "take care of her" Lory said to one of the King's man when the kid saves she turns to one of the King's Men "Where's my father?" Lory asked anxiously.

The King's Men look at each other with a grimace "The King and his arch knight are stand near the Cestine Castle, they would hold Nazareth until all the citizen safe..." then the loud explosion shook the ground, the refugee screams in fear while the soldier becomes more anxious.

Lory feels the air sucked from her lounge the sky is grey fill with smoke rather than white snow it was dust the fire everywhere burn everything around it "Protect our People, I'll find the king!"

"Yes, Your Highness" the king's Men bow respectfully at her.

Lory nodded she closed her eyes and purple orbs flew from her chest and fly away then poured down to the remained citizens and King's Men's that closed by, suddenly all they wound and pains cured without a trace and their power and mana returned like before, this is 'healing Gift' only princess Lorient have it.

"Thank you, your highness" The citizens and Kings Men's bow to her together.

"Be careful..." lory said before her wings spread and she flew away to her father are. She see her Kingdom burn to ashes her once beautiful capital city Herriond is nothing but smoked and ashes Lory avert her gazed from her beloved city she kept her speed to Cestine palace, half of the palace burns down and she finds the safe spot in one of the balconies she landed safely, she examined around them and she heard loud roar from the end of the hall.

"Lory there's a lot beast in there, be prepared" Girsha warned through telepathy to her, he already inside Lory's soul protecting her with his wings. The great and magnificent Cestine Palace now half burn and wrecked the beast roamed all over the place roaring and destroying the wall that remains.

"Yeah I see them" Lory dive to the beast horde inside in light speed she land with loud 'Bump' the wind from her wing slammed the nearest beast to the ground. The beast roar from anger but the princess far from worry she smirked at the hordes of the beast.

She released her palms and a gold staff appeared, this is Trinity staff her most dangerous weapon beside the God's sword nothing can be compared to Trinity Staff. She grabs the staff and it turned into golden sword "Let's clean the palace!!" she marches forward with haste and five beasts big as Grizzly welcome her, the herd of black Fanghorn who looks like a black wolf with long thick fang jump at lory but she managed to dodge it swiftly she swings her sword right to one of the beast stomach and the beast belly spurted blood and it dead instantly.

The others beast become furious they attacking her again at the same time but she quickly created transparent shield to cover her and the beast push back Lory change her sword into a bow and aim the beast near her the wind arrow thrust the beast head and the beast drop dead in a second, other beast tried to attack her from behind but her wings protect her and push the beast with gust of wind and the beast fly and hit the wall and died instantly.

"Thank you Girsha!" said Lory

"No problem" he answers

Lory changes her bow again to double swords and attack the remaining beast "Died you filthy beast!!!" she swings her sword and killed them right away the beast can only roar before Lory cut they head off. After she finishes with the beast she running to the main hall and find another beast Lory fight with them again she cast icicle and icicle appeared from nowhere falling from above and killed the whole beast.

Lory not wasting her time she running outside where her father could be and she's right she found him there cover with wound and scar and so his remain Soldiers around him, one of them Lory Knew very well his captain Zargan one of his father arch knight, Lory cast her healing power and heal all of them before they realize she even here "Lory!!!" King Marcus see her wound disappeared and he can feel his daughter power, Lory running to them with worried look "Father!!" she jump and embraced her Father it's been a year since she last saw him, she missed him so much.

"Lory why you here?" the King stunned with her arrival.

"Princess Lorient" Captain Zargan bow at her courteously.

"I came to help you!" Lory said with a determined look.

"No, you can't be here!!" The King refuse.

Lory stunned her Father rarely yell at her mostly he only glared at her when he's angry and that's enough to scared Lorient and Lucas also his subordinated. But today Lory steel herself "I'm not going to left you!!" she said stubbornly.

Captain Zargan smiled he left the Father-Daughter talking personally, King Marcus hold her hand "Lory listen to me!!" he looks his Daughter deeply "We all have a role to play and as royalty, we have the duty we must carry out"

Lory know what her Father going to say she look away she doesn't want to hear it, but the king holds her chin gently "Lory you must guide our people to Mark'ieth, Lucas is not here so I can only rely on you...your peoples need you, they need you strength they need hope…..remember you are my daughter.... Lucient heir"

Lory tears stream down to her cheek she hugs her father tightly "I'm sorry Father….i'm sorry for everything!!"

King Marcus kiss the top of her head softly "Me too Lory" he said gently "No matter where are you or what you do you need always remember you are my daughter The King's Daughter, You are Lucient heir you must always remember…..never forget who you are"

"BOOMMMMM...…!!"

Suddenly they heard a loud boom and follow with the sound of machine guns people screaming and thunderous roar shuttering the ground the King hold her Daughter protectively, Captain Zargan running to them with worry look but his composure still calm "I'm sorry your majesty, we can hold that creature any longer"

The king nodded he understand his time has come, Lory tightens her grip to her father robes she doesn't want to let go because she knew this would be the last time she holds her father "Noo…" she begs desperately "Don't go!!"

"Lory you must leave…" King Marcus released her grip reluctantly, he wiped her tears and stared at his beautiful daughter deeply for one last time if only he could hold his Son's too, he took a deep breath then she let go Lory hands from him gently "We go now!!" he orders his King's Men.

King Marcus left and His King's men followed behind him Lory watch his father back figure walk away. Captain Zargan smiled at her and gives her meaningful eyes he bow at Lory "farewell Princess" he said with profound gazed.

Lory bow at him back with gratitude she knew none of the King's men and Archknight that followed her Father today would be alive but still, they followed the King without hesitated. Because there's no greater honor and joy as King's Men beside died next to their King, so they march....follow the King for one last time.

Lory clench her fist, she watched her Father figure faded in the darkness when her father figure dissipated she choked on her crying the tears stream down her faces.....a few seconds later her shivering body stop she wiped her tears her gazed become resolute she spread her wings and fly away to fulfill her duty just as a Royalty as an heir of Lucient just like her father told her.

She guided them away from Herriond to safe path she used her shield to protect the refugees and the remain King's Men's,the beast horde chasing them in frenzy Lory scream loudly to all king's men "CHARGEEE!!" she changed her trinity staff to long sword she strikes the beast in impeccable movement, one by one the beast slash in to pieces but she doesn't stop, none of the king's men stop, the loud roar and the sound of steel and explosive surround the area, people screaming running with fear to the save area.

"KEEPP GOING!!" Lory screams again "Take the refugees away from here!!" she commands the other King's men.

Suddenly the bright light blinding her sight, Lory cover her eyes with her arms for a moment everything become white then she heard the loud sound like falling meteor and she could feel the heat on her skin, Lory gasped in fear she runs to the cliff and what she saw she never forget it in the middle of Herriond big crater appeared destroy almost all the city and burn the rest, Lory kneeled helplessly she knew not just her city but her father also gone she did not cry she kneel on the ground weakly she gazed far to the blazing fire in a distance. Peoples behind her holding each other they home has gone the once rich and beautiful city has turned to ashes, tears stream down in their face the can't go home anymore and Lory froze.....she has lost everything.

"Princess More is coming!!" the soldier screaming awake her from her stupor, Lory clench her sword until her hand turn white, she doesn't have time to mourn, she doesn't have time to cry.

"Take the refugee away!!" she screams again "You how many people you had left?"

"Less than one hundreds soldiers Your highness"

Lory nodded "Okay, get your Men to come with me the other protect the civilian. We take our stands here we not going anywhere until they all safe you hear me!!"

"Yes, Your highness!!"

The civilians left with few King's men, they need to get out from the border and reach Mar'Kieth the underground City, a place that was built by the King himself and his high ranking officer knew bout this, lory only knew about this a few months before.

A hundred Black dot come at her at full speed, Lory face remains calmed there's no fear or worry in her eyes only resolution.

"KING'S MEN, ON GUARD!!!!" she screams loudly. The sound of gun clicking and sword drew from scabbard can be heard loudly behind her, they all prepared for one last battle.

"For HARLAND!!" Lory scream again

The King's man behind him Scream simultaneously with vigor. While the hundreds back dot become closer and closer even the sky is covering with a black dot, the horde of Beast running at them.

"FOR THE KING!!!" Lory raised her sword with a loud scream.

"FOR THE KING!!" The King's Men answer with a loud scream.

"CHARGE!!!!" Lory aim her sword to the horde beast, and flew at them like a cannonball, the beast roar and the soldier charge at them without fear, today would later be known as the 'War of the Fallen' many had died the soldier, civilian and The King himself. It also the day that Lory changed from Princess to warrior and she lost her bubbly and warmed personality at the same time she lost her smile.