In a single night, there were a spectacular number of losses for the Heavenly Army. The fires had destroyed the majority of their camps. All of the infiltrators were either caught or killed very ruthlessly and without mercy. Many Branded Elves were caught between automatic turrets and human traps and pitfalls. But the Foundation had also suffered the loss of the elf village, as due to the fight between the peaceful elves and the Branded, who took advantage and started killing them just because they didn't accept flipping to their side.
A total of 128 elves were lost on that day, including men, women, and children. The Branded were finally put to rest. The remaining Branded fled to the lands. They were scattered, but a hunting team was quickly put together and sent after them by Phoenix. While Vania brought an ice-bound Akaso back to the camp. Laying frostbitten, he stood before the King. His presence was so overwhelming that Akaso couldn't even meet his eyes. His eyes actively faced the ground.
King:
To think you've been hiding for centuries in the Spirit Forest. You played me very well, Akaso.
King:
And to have the audacity to raise your blade against your own who raised you—and even your own wife.
Akaso was so triggered by the hypocritical words that he raised his head.
Akaso:
Hypocrite! You massacre the lands and leave rivers of blood when your deed is completed. How dare you lecture me, you damned hypocrite!
Besides him, Jay was standing, and Akaso had the realization that he was on the same side as the King.
Akaso:
You too, Jay. You were hunted by this hypocrite. I saved you, and this is how you repay me—binding me in these cold chains. It seems the rabbit had become nothing but a mutt.
As he finished his comment, the frost in his body spread further, stemming from his chains that Vania had trapped him in. Both of them were soft enough to hear him out, but not Vania. For this insult, which even she felt, she grew the frost on his body. Akaso resisted the urge to scream in pain until finally his entire body was almost frozen.
Vania:
We still need you to spill, so I've left you alive.
Akaso was barely able to make a smile after a lot of trial.
Akaso:
My words did hurt you, didn't they? I know you—in the end, you shall end the same as me.
Vania crafted an icicle and launched it at him, but in the nick of time, Jay melted it with fire magic.
Jay:
Elder Akaso, I am, was, and will always be grateful for your deed. Even I do not wish to see you in these chains. But you are bound because of your own deeds.
Akaso, in his rage, summoned every bit of mana which was frozen inside him in a last-ditch effort to kill Jay. The ground around them started shaking, and the Elder's eyes rolled back.
Akaso:
Insolent brats like you need to be sent to God.
Small pebbles and rocks started floating around him. Jay was fully prepared to take the attack, but before the Elder could do anything, his neck was cut down by a very sharp and cold sword made by Vania, whose eyes had turned absolutely cold. The head fell, and neither the head nor the body could bleed.
Vania:
People who abandon their own are not needed here.
That moment was so sudden that both of them couldn't even speak up. Even the King was surprised that for a couple of seconds, he found that his voice was blocked.
King:
Vania, I had not given orders for Akaso to be killed.
Vania:
If you have a problem with my ways, then you shouldn't have brought me here. I shall call someone to dispose of this. Please excuse me.
Saying this, Vania opened the tent curtain to step outside, only to be met by Roy, who, very infuriated by her actions, slapped her. As he took his hand back, he noticed that his own hand had frozen. Roy vibrated his hand and produced enough energy in order to unfreeze it.
Roy:
I am sorry for this unsightly display, Master. I will thoroughly reprimand her.
The King looked at Vania's unapologetic eyes and found it odd why she, of everyone, would rush to kill him.
Jay:
Please spare Vania—she just tried to save me, that's all.
Jay tried his best to save Vania. But everyone in the room knew that if that shot was fired, then Akaso might have died an even more gruesome death than just simply freezing.
King:
Vania, your behaviour is unacceptable. But this time, I shall be lenient. You shall be sentenced to the Soundless Room for one hour.
The Soundless Room is a room where there is no sound. The decibel level is in the negative scale, and Foundation soundproofing decreases it even more. Thus any person who spends time in there has a decent chance of going insane. It is said that people can hear their own heartbeats, breathing sounds, the sound of their blood flowing through their veins, and even more.
Vania:
How noble is the Foundation, punishing an innocent for saving his life?
King:
Vania, I have to be fair to all. I hope you don't take it to heart. Roy, take her away.
After they both were gone, only Jay and the King were left.
King:
Any other information you would like to regurgitate, Jay? Something that I haven't heard before? This is now the time to vomit everything you have stored.
Jay thought of things from his adventure—such as the rift, the Demon King, Raizon—but then he remembered the pact he made with the God of Order. No matter what happened, he couldn't reveal it. As Phoenix and others were deeply involved, he would risk everything.
Jay:
No, sir, nothing comes to my mind. Oh, right—I remember Raizon had a giant mech I used in the Demon War. I think it was called Hekatonkaries or something. I think they have mechas.
King:
No wonder they are planning nothing but victory tomorrow. Fine, you can go to sleep. Take a deep rest—you'll need it.
Jay thanked his master and left the tent, only to be met by Lilia, who was accompanied by the same mage.
Jay:
Hey, Lilia. So how's the Foundation?
Lilia was very skeptical at first, but now she had entirely changed her perspective.
Lilia:
Jay, I will be ever grateful to you. You landed in my life as an angel—scratch that, you landed as a saviour and took me where I dreamed of.
Lilia continued to praise Jay as she quickly spouted words like a water fountain, too much for Jay to bear. She went inside the tent, and within a few minutes, she was out, showing off her mana oath. At that moment, Jay saw the largest smile on anyone's face in a very long time.
Mage:
Miss Lilia, please follow me. I shall show you to your mage unit.
And just like that, Lilia went with the mage, and with every step, she skipped. This might have been her happiest moment, but for Jay, it was just another night.