A full moon loomed over a small town near the west coast of the Dragonian Empire. Birds can be heard chirping and communicating with each other through the night. Cold air embraces the town as everyone is either sleeping or staying up late in a tavern, drinking and telling stories of what happened last Vinculum Ceremony.
Outside the tavern, the streets are empty, they are always empty at this late hour. Nothing ever changed here, well nothing ever changed for the better. The town is now only thriving through the fish they caught in the ocean. Although the soil became bearable compared to the last years, there are still a lot of things to do for this small town to thrive.
“I heard it is to be expected that our town and other small towns will improve sooner or later.” A group of men was discussing as they continued to drink.
“Well, the Imperial family got a new dragon.”
“Is it really going to be that simple?”
“It’s a red dragon, who knows.” This man chugs a mug of beer.
“The dragon stone in the capital was destroyed right?”
“Yes, and as a solution, they decided to place pieces of the shattered stones around the empire.”
“The dragon stone they’ve placed in the forest, is it really enough to help us? To help the other towns surrounding it as well?”
“We can only hope.”
“At least the emperor is not raising the taxes.”
“Well yeah, but the nobles are on the move,” a man who was quiet ever since the conversation started stood up and looked at them.
“On the move?”
“What do you mean?”
The man drank his beer and sigh as he turn his back against them.
“The missing people, some say the nobles are behind it.” With that, he left.
“How is it even beneficial to the nobles to kidnap people?”
“Don’t mind him, and don’t speak another word of it. Never in our history, there has been a conflict between nobles and commoners, and I would like it to remain that way.”
They continued talking and ordering drinks to fill themselves after a long day of labor when five hooded men entered the tavern. Although their faces could not be seen, everyone in the tavern knew that these men are not from there.
They walked silently and encircled the perimeter of the tavern as they are holding something from inside their cloaks.
“What do you want for tonight travelers?” The owner asked the man nearest to him as he started to prepare the mugs.
Instead of answering him, a scream is heard from the outside as the smell of smoke entered the tavern.
“WHAT IS HAPPENING?!” Immediately the men stood up to go out the door but were stopped by someone who entered the door pointing a metal thing at them.
As this man pulled out this long metal object, the other five inside the tavern pulled theirs as well and pointed at them.
“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?! OUT OF MY WAY!”
Without a warning, a bang can be heard and something swift went out of the metallic tube. The man who was once standing was now on the floor, head blown to bits.
It was too fast for the men inside to comprehend and no one dared to make a move.
“Listen up! Do something that goes against what we say and you will all end up like him!”
“NO WAY!” This man ran as he pulled a sword but halfway through he also ended up the same way as the first.
“Again, those who go against us will meet the same fate as them.” The man standing at the door pulled down his hood and it can be clearly seen that this man is still a teenager, but what shocked them the most is the wicked smile plastered on his face as he savored the blood scattering on the floor.
*****
“YOUR MAJESTY!” Earl barged inside the Emperor’s chambers without even knocking, an act which he knows can be paid for by his head but this is an important matter.
“Earl? What is the meaning of this?!” The Emperor put the book he was reading and stood up, annoyance clearly plastered on his face.
“A distress signal has been sent and a raven arrived.”
“From where? What happened?”
“I haven’t opened the contents yet, Your Majesty, but I am guessing this is very bad.”
“YOUR MAJESTY!” This time Zyde entered his chambers carrying a crystal device.
“What is it Zyde?”
“A message from the tower located on the west coast.”
“Answer it,” despite the tension, the Emperor is still calm and composed.
“Y-your Majesty! Am I audible?”
“Yes, now give me a report of what is happening!”
“The town is being taken over!”
“Taken over? By whom?”
“We haven’t received any information on that yet your majesty. But here is what happened…”
The person on the other end narrated what happened the best he could as the Emperor opened the letter sent through the raven.
Unlike how calm he was before, he now has a pale look on his face that even the person at the other end stopped talking as he watched the change of expression on the Emperor’s face.
“Your Majesty, what is wrong?” Earl and Zyde assisted the Emperor to sit down.
“Prepare the knights to head west, let others remain here. Contact the noble houses and make them contribute at least 5 knights per house. Prepare to make siege.”
*****
“Do you hear that, Allan? What a beautiful melody, what songs of the heart.” The man continued watching the crystal as it displayed the chaos that is currently happening on the west coast.
“These screams signify the start of a new era!” With that, he stood up and looked at the full moon while raising a toast.
He noticed that Allan was awfully silent, so he turned around and faced him, “Why are you so silent Allan? You should be celebrating! Here, come and have some wine!”
The man smiled broadly at him but as Allan made no move, his expression became dark.
“Are you having doubts, Allan?” He walked slowly towards Allan, putting his glass of wine down.
Allan was so taken by the events in the crystal that it seems he did not hear anything since the beginning of the conversation.
He then remembered where he was and who was talking to him, so he gulped while trying to hide his nervousness and conscience.
“I-I’m sorry, sir. I seemed to have lost- to have lost-“ The man moved close to him and cornered him on the wall.
“Are you having doubts, Allan?” The man asked him slowly without peeling his eyes off him.
He gulped again, having the urge to look away but dared not to.
“No sir, I have none!”
The man smiled again, “Good, I was beginning to think you were somewhat concerned for those filthy commoners. They’re nothing, even horses have bigger worth than those scums.”
The sat down, enjoying his wine again.
“Oh, did you send the letter to the Imperial palace?”
“Oh, yes I did, sir.”
“Good, the Emperor may have already read the conditions stated inside.”
The man laughs to himself remembering the contents of the letter.
“Sir, if I may ask, what is the content of the letter?”
“Well, a simple exchange. Let’s see who he will pick, a town full of Draconian commoners or his granddaughters.”