The Stonehearted Knight
Chapter 238: The King’s move (2)

Chapter 238: The King’s move (2)

"Father made his move."

Rayos sipped his wine and grinned. He watched the spectacle in the air. Rays of light and rainbow-colored light danced in the sky.

He heard the people scream and shout but chose to ignore them. If people didn’t sacrifice themselves for the good of the Kingdom, who did they expect help from?

Rayos believed the subjects under a King served to protect their leader’s benefits and defend the borders. At a time like this, where the ruling family faced an end to their rule, the people should fight to prolong it. Even at the cost of their lives.

"Soon, everything will be under control."

The Oracle beside him nodded while the Star Sword remained silent. She only smiled. The crystal with the Sage’s heritage glowed softly in her hand.

...

"High Priest, prepare. Father has started the last phase of the plan."

Asoll instructed the old man at his side. They were the only two people in the Temple. It was rare for the capital’s monolith to remain still. But the citizens didn’t question the will of the priest. After all, they believed the priest represented Heaven and that Heaven wasn’t to be questioned. Its rules and laws were eternal, like Heaven itself. Or so they believed.

The old man rummaged at the monolith. With a humm, it activated. Beams of light pierced through the dome.

"It’s time to take your place, young Prince."

Asoll followed the High Priest’s instructions and walked to his designated spot. The pedestal he climbed on stood in front of the monolith.

As soon as he took his place, all the beams of light converged and hit him. His shadows wrapped tighter around him. His rainbow-colored eyes shone with a mesmerizing glow.

Looking at the sky, Asoll nodded. "It’s time."

The converged light, shot up in the sky, traveling toward the north. It took some time before the people in the capital noticed the beam of light. It shone brightly and enlarged at a rapid speed. Before they could react, the light engulfed the entire city.

People panicked. Some rejoiced. Others just watched in awe. Only a few people stared with pensive gazes at the light.

"My Lord, this..."

A confidant of the Court’s Chief looked alarmed as he addressed his master. The Chief of the Royal Court stood at the window with a calm gaze. Stroking his beard, he raised his hand.

"Calm down, child. This is within our plans. The rulers have made their move. Soon, it will be time to make ours."

...

The Commander landed on a broken roof. The beams and strings worried him. Not to mention, the figure of the King in the middle of the sky as he controlled all of the rainbows and strings.

Those things weren’t limited to the Temple district. Looking around, the Commander’s sharp eyes picked the strings all over the ruin. In fact, the strings were the thickest around the newly-conquered market district of the ruin. That was where all the explorers and officials resided.

"What is he up to?"

The Duke, Old Gargoyle, and the old man clad in blue and silver, joined the Commander on the roof. The Duke had shrunk to his ’human’ size, although his features still resembled a bovine.

"It seems he wished to pull all the strings of Fate toward the center. But for what purpose, I don’t know."

At their stage, a few secrets alluded to them. They knew about the strings of Fate more than other citizens. The Kingdom of Asteralla had a long history of Fate and Oracles but the details were kept a secret by the royals.

"Look!"

Old Gargoyle pointed toward the King. They saw a thick string pull a glowing crystal and the figure of someone. Both floated in the sky and moved slowly toward the King.

"The Queen?"

The powerhouses discerned the features of the figure at once. All of them had seen the Queen at some point in the past. They recognized her immediately.

"Is he trying to revive her?" The Duke growled with glowing red eyes.

"That would not work," The old man sneered. "The Queen was the greatest Oracle in our history. Someone at her level can’t be revived...unless..."

"What?" Old Gargoyle urged when the old man fell silent.

"Unless he performs an act of Sin," the Commander added.

"...or he transfers her Strings," the old man added.

"You mean..."

The Commander’s eyes went to the figure inside the Temple. She lay on the floor. Scared and crying. She seemed to have noticed the Queen’s body too. Her round eyes and stunned expressions revealed as much.

...

Elena dreamt for years of seeing more colors around. She prayed to see something else than gray and dark. Tonight, in a way, her prayers were answered. But instead of joy, she only felt fear.

For years she questioned what her father did inside the walls of the Temple. Now, she was inside and the walls were gone. But she rather not see. The people inside were just shells without souls.

She watched the people stare blankly into space. They didn’t react to her cries. The worst part was that her cries didn’t even reach those with a soul. Like her father. She pleaded and cried but he looked at her with those cold and dead eyes.

He only uttered a few words before taking the skies.

"You fulfilled your purpose."

She didn’t understand. She still couldn’t understand what purpose she served. But she understood she served only a purpose. Nothing more. Was that her life? Could it be even called a life?

She wondered what her mother would advise. She hoped she was alive. Maybe things would be different if she was here. Maybe she would feel less cold.

Suddenly, she felt even colder. She shivered. It was ice cold. The cold came from above her. So, she looked up. She saw a crystal flickering and sending out blue light. The light was cold. Extremely cold. And then she saw...saw her mother.

She was here. And Elena felt cold. Colder than ever before.