Chapter 10. Back To The Streets

After Thomaes and the Black Battalion Knights left the garden, returning to who knew where, that left everybody else in the garden with no idea what to do.

The crown prince, Haide III, had already called together his closest family and nobles and discussed in whispers. It was clear that they had to formulate some sort of plan, such as accommodation, throne succession, and how they would ensure that the Empire wouldn’t fall apart.

As for the servants and those who were left without homes, there was a variety of different choices being made. Some people left the garden in a hurry, perhaps seeing this as a chance to become free. These were most likely slaves who had been forced to work out of punishment and wished to take advantage of the chaos.

The higher-ranking servants, and those with nowhere else to go, waited in the garden with no clue what to do. These were the people who couldn’t function without having a master, or those with such loyalty to the throne that they would follow them wherever they went.

Valorth and Adion swiftly became a part of the third set of people, those who were not forced to be slaves, yet did not hold any loyalty to the throne. These people had to make a decision as to what to do next, and Adion hardly had to think about it.

“Well, let’s go then,” Adion said, nudging Valorth’s shoulder as he started to make his way towards the road that led to the city.

Valorth didn’t move at first. “Go where?” he said.

It had been so long since he had been a free man, if he could even call it that. His life had been centered around the walls of the palace, and his comfort had been provided to him by the hands of the Empire.

But that was not where he grew up.

“Where do you think?” Adion said with a shrug. “Back to the streets.”

———

The sun had started to fall as they made their way down the roads winding to the city streets. However, due to the events taking place at the palace, the pavements were packed with servants.

Carriages were being hired left, right and centre, given directions to take them to places all over the city. Some of the servants attempted to escape and head out to one of the other major cities spread throughout the country of Vahesh, or perhaps they would make their way to one of the other two countries, Keros and Olinest, which were also under the Central Empire’s rule. Valorth and Adion had no such plans at the moment. Not only was it important for them to gather their bearings first, but the prospect of travelling frightened them. They had never been outside of the city, after all.

Adion rested his back against a nearby lamppost and gazed up at the night sky, whilst Valorth stood nearby, looking around the city. He couldn’t remember the last time he had seen so many men and women dressed in the clothes of the servants outside of the palace basements.

This all feels so surreal…

As carriages passed by, Adion reached into the pockets of his black waistcoat and pulled out a brown bag tied with thread. He opened it and emptied five silver coins and four copper coins into his hand.

“Where the hell did you get all that from?” Valorth asked in surprise. Servants weren’t paid in the palace, as simple accommodation and two daily meals were what they worked for.

Some servants could take on extra tasks to earn coins, which was how the pair had managed to save up enough money to purchase two demon hearts; however, they were supposed to be broke after their purchase.

“Never underestimate the Promiser,” Adion said with a wink as he placed the coins back into the bag. “We should book a carriage to the nearest inn and spend the night. Once we’re there, we can plan our next moves. After all, who knows what will happen after the news of the angel spreads. Jeez, I still can’t believe it.” Valorth nodded in agreement. It was better than what he had planned, which was to spend the night in an alleyway as they had done in the past.

“It’s all so crazy,” Valorth uttered. “I would say that we should pray, but I wouldn’t know who to direct the prayers towards.”

With that said, the pair hired a carriage using one of the copper coins and were taken down the smog-filled streets. The carriage rider tried to ask them about what was going on, but they feigned obliviousness, not wishing to be the ones to spread the news.

After five minutes, they were taken to a tavern called “Mother’s Arms.” It was a smoky, low-ceilinged gin house thick with the scent of coal smoke and damp fabric, located on the same street as Saint Denise’s Church: a towering, gothic cathedral whose spire stretched into the skies, dedicated to the worship of the Angel of Arms.

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On its stained glass was art of an angel, with wings made from swords and a halo hovering above his head.

The Great Angel of Arms. If this were a few days ago, I would draw the sword symbol over my chest and ask for its blessing.

Adion didn’t even spare the church a glance as they entered the tavern. Inside, business was slow. An older, balding man sat behind the counter cleaning a mug, whilst a handful of customers sat around the wooden tables, drinking and eating before going to rest. As they made their way over to the counter, they were shot glances, but only for a second. Despite being the capital city, Uradesh residents were an unsocial bunch.

The tavern keeper glanced up from his mug and looked the two young men up and down, taking in their palace-cut coats, but said nothing more. “Two coppers for the furthest room upstairs.”

Adion pulled the coins free and exchanged them for a key, and the two wasted no time in heading upstairs. The room was modest, with nothing but two beds and two desks.

I can see why this tavern doesn’t seem to get much business... At least it’s got a window.

After sitting himself down on the bed, Adion let out a great sigh, and took off his shirt. Valorth noticed a large scar that ran through the man's back. A scar he had gotten years ago, during their time on the streets. The memory flashed through his mind, but only for a second. He had always believed it was a miracle that his friend had managed to survive.

“By tomorrow the entire city will know what’s happened,” Valorth said as he did the same, sitting down on his own bed. “That’s an understatement; it might have already spread throughout the country.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised. The Empire might stop worshipping the Angel of Arms, and then what? Will they turn to other religions?” Adion responded.

Valorth scratched at his chin and laid his head on his pillow, staring up at the ceiling. “I… I don’t think so. I believe that many will turn to demons. Rituals and sacrifices will become much more popular, and the cities will see chaos.” The thought of it made him feel sick in his stomach. He had had a run-in with a demon himself and wished to never experience it again. At least not at his current strength.

Before Adion could respond, Valorth continued. “We need to become stronger. We need to learn more about our hearts and progress to the next veins. Before we make any plans for the future, we need to make sure that we’re strong enough to protect ourselves from the threats that might appear around us.”

Adion hesitated for a moment, thinking about his friend’s words before he spoke. “You’re right.” Then, he lay his head on his own pillow and closed his eyes. “Power is everything.”

As the two closed their eyes and lay there in silence, a fleeting thought crossed Valorth’s mind.

Is now the time to tell him about my corrupted heart…

What am I afraid of? He’s my greatest friend, and I am his.

He almost opened his mouth to speak, but fear stopped him. Everyone knew how the corrupted were treated. It was a case so rare that no one was against the concept of the corrupted being executed for the greater good. At the bare minimum, they would be imprisoned for a lifetime, and only slain once they began to lose their sanity and become monsters.

He who keeps company with the corrupted holds in his hands a powder keg whose slow match smoulders; his destruction is certain.

He reminded himself of a quote written by the Great Oswald himself. The man who had studied the hearts many centuries ago and discovered their natures.

Yet still, he opened his eyes and turned to his friend, considering telling him the truth. However, what he saw was the red-haired Adion with closed eyes, snoring softly as he drifted off into sleep. Valorth felt his body relax, and he turned his head back to the ceiling and closed his eyes. He took the needed rest, and he knew not what the next day would entail.

———

After an unknown amount of time passed, Valorth opened his eyes, expecting to be staring up at the ceiling of his tavern room. However, instead he was met with a realm of white clouds, possessing nothing but a spiritual body. He glanced around the endless expanse, still not used to the strange sensation.

Another vision… are these daily occurrences?

Despite the foreign circumstances, Valorth found himself excited to be presented with the vision. Even though the last one he had witnessed didn’t give him much information, he knew that there was a chance he could learn the names of angels, or perhaps other valuable information. After all, with the current state of his life, he would take anything he could get.

After a few moments passed, the clouds bled with colour. The scene beneath him started to form, turning various different colours. Eventually, Valorth found himself hovering over a scene that took place in a grand chamber made entirely from glistening stones. At the center of the room was a golden slab, where two shadowed figures lay atop it. One had the curves of a woman, whilst the other had the musculature of a man. As the man rested his head on the woman’s chest, she spoke in a melodic tone.

“It’s nice to be able to have times like this, even amidst war.”

The man didn’t respond for a while, and yet the scene went on in silence. Valorth wondered whether there was some sort of problem with the vision. Then, after a while, the woman spoke again.

“Armaneus, when do you think our world of Raqiya will know peace again?”

The words sent Valorth into a state of shock.

Armaneus? That man laying atop the woman’s breast is Armaneus? And what is the world of Raqiya? Our world does not have a name. We only know it as the Four Corners.

His attention turned back to the scene as the man finally spoke. His voice was powerful like the storm, yet he spoke as one would to another.

“I do not know, Kacel,” Armaneus said as he reached up and stroked the woman’s cheek with his finger. “Whenever the Greater One wills it.”

With that, the scene began to fade away, and Valorth found himself thrust into his physical body once again. He jolted up to a seated position, slightly out of breath and riddled in sweat. His hands clutched at his forehead as he tried to piece together what he had heard.

That woman was Kacel… Armaneus and Kacel were once lovers in the distant past.

Valorth wasn’t sure how he felt about this new information. It only brought about more questions.

Kacel has been enslaved. It doesn’t seem likely that Armaneus would allow his lover to be enslaved. Just what is going on in the realm of angels?

And they mentioned the Greater One… who is the Greater One?

After an attempt at tackling his thoughts, Valorth glanced out of the window and saw that the sky was still dark. It was still some time in the night. Then, he glanced over at the bed on the other side of the room to check on his friend Adion. However, what he saw filled him with great shock.

The bed was empty, and there was no sign of Adion.