Max leaned against the wall in the corridor, early the next morning, staring at the dark cloudy sky.
Steady footsteps echoed across the walls, approaching his direction until they stopped next to him, followed by a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Lost in thought so early in the morning, my boy?" George asked, his gaze to the sky and the courtyard.
"I just..... I feel terrible for what happened that day."
"With Lady Ruth?"
"Yes, about that. I feel guilty, but at the same time, I feel content."
"That's what happens when you're honest. It feels liberating to speak the truth, but the sight of someone breaking from your honesty is.... bittersweet."
"I don't know what to do about it. I want to talk to her but I'm sure that she hates me now."
"Do you....?"
"What? No! I only think that she's a good person like Lady Eleanor," Max shook his head, his gaze to the older man, 'Besides, my type are German shepherds.'
"I see. Well, from my experience in the past with dealing with His Majesty as child."
"What happened?"
"During the times he was in the palace before his exile to the Northern Grand Duchy, he was eager for his parents' attention, especially his mother's. He did anything and everything, including the misleading advice from his second older brother like interrupting her tea parties and acting spoiled. However, that either led to him being ignored completely or beaten. He thought it was her way of showing affection, until I showed him the truth on the day before his exile. It was a devastating sight."
Max nodded silently and pushed himself off the wall, "I should probably get work done."
"Of course. Don't forget to eat properly this time. Though knowing you, you probably not need to be reminded," George gave him a small smile and went to Cain's bedchambers.
At noon, Max went to the collided wall where the witches and the refugees has set up the camp. He sat with the knights guarding the area, listening to them chat amongst themselves.
"I can't believe that His Majesty allowed them to stay. If I were the king, I would've had them killed on sight," said a young knight, causing the older men erupt in loud laughter.
"Thank the gods you're not!"
"Having ambitions is fine, lad. But ya need a brain first before ya get yerself killed."
"He's being cautious, boy. These people aren't easy to deal with."
"Aye, that's true. After all, if they are capable of breaking through the wall, what's stopping them from using their magic on ya?"
Max patted the young knight's shoulder as another knight looked around the area then leaned further into the middle, his voice low for their ears alone to hear, "I heard from Vincent that he saw smoke in the forest near the dam. Maybe the witches are planning on breaking the dam?"
"That could be a possibility, after all, I heard from William that Countess Mills is the leader of the witches."
"Damn, I always knew that woman has an eerie air to her."
"No wonder the king agreed to let them stay."
Suddenly, a drop of water fell from the sky. Then another and another until it began to rain heavy.
Max heard cheers erupting from the Pagus as everyone ran for cheer while he slowly walked back to the palace.
In Cain's study, Alex sat by the desk, books and papers stacked by his head as he laid his head face-first on the desk.
Abel leaned against the wall behind him, staring out the window as he watched people run for shelter in the rain.
"I don't know if this weather is a miracle or a curse."
"Both."
"Any ideas on what you'll tell the Countess?"
Alex shook his head, "I have no clue."
"Did you consult with Eleanor or George?"
"Yes, and they're currently searching a solution in the library."
"Is she okay?"
"They'll get married once I leave his body."
"I see."
"Do you—"
"No. I'm simply concerned for her."
"How are the goods?"
"All the illegally exported goods are hidden and heavily guarded and waiting for your orders on when they should be distributed."
A loud boom echoed from the southwest of Austinia, followed by a low rumble, but it wasn't thunder. It lingered too long. Too deep.
Abel straightened slightly, as they exchanged a glance, "Did that come from the—"
The second sound cut him off. A crack— distance and sharp.
Alex lifted his head just as the roar followed.
Not from the sky, but the earth.
It grew fast. Too fast.
Like something massive had been unchained.
They looked at each other once more, then took off running.
By the time they reached the corridor, the palace was already unraveling.
Suddenly, the Gnobilis wall bursted wide open as water tore through it in a violent surge, stone and timber exploding inward as if the river itself had decided to invade.
A churning wall of mud and debris surged into the city, swallowing everything in its path.
A carriage with a small family trapped inside vanished in the water, their screams cut off.
People screamed beyond the palace gates. Knights shouted over one another.
Alex felt vibrates under his feet as another slammed against the palace gate, breaking through the large metal doors, damaging the hinges as the knights who tried to close it were engulfed by the strong current.
Glass shattered, shards and mud littering the floors as they went downstairs. The courtyard was flooded.
("How could a flood occur so suddenly?")
'Something is definitely wrong.'
"It appears that the flood has something to do with the sound coming from the southwest," Abel stated as they abruptly came to a halt, nearly avoiding debris brought in by the rain through the broken window.
("Someone must have destroyed the dam intentionally.")
'But who and why?'
("The witches could be possible suspects, but it could be one of the nobles.")
"Alex, you'll go and check around the palace. I'll try and get the civilians to safety."
Abel took off some of his armor and jumped off the window into the water, swimming towards the drowning knights.
'How is he able to swim in this current?'
("Didn't you say that world is fictional?")
'Oh right...'
He turned away from the window and ventured deeper into the palace.
In the library, Eleanor hit her fists on the doors, her white lace gloves stained with blood from her bruised palms.
Water mixed with mud and debris from the damaged walls slipped underneath the wooden door, soaking her shoes and stockings, the water raising slowly to her knees.
George, however, carried the tomes and records and took them to a water proof compartment built in the room during the construction of the 16 meter dam.
He carefully placed them in the small space, using his jacket to prevent water from entering before he closed it.
Eleanor was leaning against the wall, panting in exhaustion as her hair damp from sweat and humid air, her skirt soaked.
"Are you alright, My Lady?"
"No. My chest and palms are burning."
"Any progress?"
"I think that there's something on the other side. Found a way out?"
"We can escape through the window and climb to the roof and head to the tower. However, with the ongoing rain outside and your current attire, arriving there would be..... rather difficult to say the least."
She sighed, not bothering to tear her dress, watching the water raise to her knees.
"This is a disaster."
"Truly."
"I suspect my father being the reason for this sudden flood."
"How's so?"
"Just a hunch."
He nodded, then turned his gaze to the second floor of the library until hearing a soft thud. He reached for his hidden dagger, his eyes alert.
Max climbed down the stairs, his clothes ripped and wet, covered with blood and debris, water dripping from his hair as he carried a leather satchel against his chest.
"My word, are you alright, my boy?"
"I ran, swam and climbed to the window and made a quick stop to Lady Eleanor's room," he approached her, and took out a shirt, trousers and a pair of boots.
"Thank you, Max," she received the garments and went behind one of the shelves.
"Where's His Majesty?"
"He, along with some of the knights, are helping the servants get to higher ground as we speak. As for Sir Abel, I saw him, the knights and the Blood Witches led by Countess Alaina are handling the situation in Gnobilis."
After Eleanor had changed her clothing, they went through the window and scaled the stone wall, feeling the heavy drops of rain hit their skin like small icy shards. The wind pushing them back with each step to the roof.
Upon reaching the roof, Eleanor watched the dark brown water crash against the walls of the palace, uprooting the plants with the strong current.
Her gaze drifted to the city beyond the now fallen gate, watching the knights assisting the civilians to the top of the crumbling buildings while Alaina and the witches created dooms and a bridge to the highlands with blood as they hovered over the water.
Her gaze drifted further as she heard a distant scream and spotted Ruth crawling on a roof towards a child hanging in a tree while carrying two other children on her back.
"My Lady?"
She faced ahead of her and saw George staring at her with concern and impatience.
"Oh.... My apologies."
As they continued the ventured towards a nearby balcony, she saw a shadow blur through her peripheral vision on her left. She looked around before she caught up to George and Max.
Alex, along with two knights, swam through the corridors to the staircase, the water levels reducing with each step up the stairs to Cain's room.
'This is such a mess.'
("I agree. We'll have a lot of work to do once this is over.")
He pushed the doors open and entered the room, giving them blankets and clothes for them to take to the people in the upper rooms.
He watched them carry the blankets out of the room, then he placed the clothes on the bare mattress.
Suddenly, he felt a chill run down his spine, hairs standing on end and goosebumps erupt on his skin.
Swish.
He heard movement near the window. He turned and only saw the shattered glass.
The sound of his heartbeat in his ear increased with every beat, sweat dripping down his forehead.
("Someone's in the room. Stay alert.")
He gulped, reaching for the gun, his fingers wrapped around the grip.
Alex heard the rain, water, the people's muffled screams and his heartbeat, slowly removing the gun from his pocket as he searched around room.
As he was about to relax, he heard a sharp whistle nearing his ear. He dodged to the side, narrowly missing the blade as he took out the gun and pulled the trigger, catching them by surprise, the bullet piercing the wall on their right.
The figure attacked again, their stance cautious, aiming for his left side.
He clumsily dodged the attack with Cain's instructions, slipping in the water as he backed away, nearly throwing through the broken window behind him, holding himself steady with the wall, staring at the water below.
The figure rushed towards him again, aiming for his chest, the red and black crest of a lion pinned on their cloak caught the light.
His breath caught and blood rushed, mind went blank as he instantly took the gun and pulled the trigger.
A loud bang rang out of the room, followed by an thud and anguished scream.
Alex snapped his gaze to the fallen cloaked figure kneeling on the floor.
The figured clutched their dagger tightly, holding close to their bleeding shoulder as the water around them turned red with their blood.
Alex's legs grew weak, the revolver falling to the floor from his trembling hands. He took an unsteady step back and fell to the floor.
His erratic heartbeat drowning out the noises around him, his lungs burning as he felt suffocated by an imaginary hand wrapped around his neck.
His vision blurred, images swam and his ears began to ring until he was engulfed by darkness.
Click
[Holder Candidate Quest One: Change the plot— Complete]