Im not an adventurer, Im just a student!

You all dont want me to go down into the caverns with

you; Ill just get it in the way. Im not good at this sort of thing.
It was a fierce storm. Rain careened down from the sky. Lightning roared and made
magnificent arcs across the sky. The angry sky overlooked an angrier battle going on
underneath. Burning buildings attempted to match the calamity in the sky. As metal clanked and
mana was flung in glowing spectacle, the top of the celestial castle could be seen as the
epicenter of hell.
If you go up the spiral staircase that acted as the spine of the castle, you could reach the
attic. If you go through the door in there, you could follow a flight of stairs into the kings terrace.
It overlooked the vast sea to the northeast. There was no fence to overlook the steep cliffside
and, on the other end of the flat, circular slab of granite, the roof of the castle acted as a wall.
The celestial flag waved in the wind, overseeing the once proud city that was currently besieged
by the Rowan army who dared to bare fangs at the ruling powers.
I lost this fight ten minutes ago. said Te. He was sitting, bleeding from the top of his head. His
legs were extended and arms upturned in his lap looking up at Corgea. Fury radiated in his eyes
and his blood ran down his arms. Corgea stood between the righteous king and the roaring
ocean. Pouring rain pattered against the rock underneath them.
I-
You know what I hate? Corgea interrupted. With a huff, Corgea dashed toward Te and
delivered a swift knee to his face. With a crash, Te was splayed out with blood covering the
entire bottom half of his face.
Whats that... Corgea? The king struggled, coughing. He looked up at the sky, until Corgea
squatted down, hands in fists in his lap.
Youre gracious in defeat. So calm and so collected. Its disgusting. You are NOT a superior
mind. You are a ruler without humanity. No king can rule without flesh! Corgea snarled.
With- Te began to rebuttal, but Corgea clasped the celestial by his now messed, brown hair
and the back of his pants, as his robe had been removed at the beginning of the fight. With a
grunt, he threw Te into the middle of the terrace where he caught himself on his knees. A glint of
terror could be seen in his eyes as he looked back to see Corgea deliver a fierce kick right into
his ribs. With a yelp of pain, Te was forced onto his side. Corgea was now in between Te and
the celestial flag.
Speaking king to king, I only have one question. Corgea said, panting. He took a second as a
bolt of lightning struck close in the sea causing thunder to explode into their ears.
Te, why did you let this happen?

Te groaned, he clutched his side. With his other arm, he reached out at Corgea, fingers
spread. Corgea, youve won this war. Corgea interlocked his fingers with Tes. He began to
whip dark aura around in his hand. Tes hand began to go numb until Corgea clenched down on
his knuckles, at which point sharp needle pain coursed through his hand and up into his
shoulder. Te began to shout as another strike of lightning arced over the mountain.
That wasnt my question, Te! Why did you let this happen?! Corgea yelled as he took the
wounded kings neck with his hand and began to squeeze. Te spat on Corgeas face. He
recoiled and let go. Crawling backwards towards the edge of the terrace facing the ocean, Te
spoke.
Im not going to answer that question, its not like any answer would satisfy you.
Te, your conquest estranged well over a thousand people-
My conquest?! What of war would quench violence?
IF YOU BELIEVE ME TO BE JUSTICE, YOU HAVENT BEEN PAYING ATTENTION. Corgea
snapped. As spittle flew from the Rowans mouth, Te took the opportunity to rise back up to his
feet. I am your forgotten fury. he continued Your conquest estranged well over a thousand
people, and you did not expect Collosuraunt to react? Why did you let this happen?!
I am weak, Corgea. Man is weak. Even celestials are weak. Ideals, Corgea. Ideals cannot be
killed, they cannot be touched. The perfection of the unmanifested is taking form. I, a king, am a
simple servant of that. I do my duty as well as I can. You are naught but proof of my
imperfection in the eyes of truth. I cannot stop war anymore than you can stop your own
savagery.
Corgea glared.
Teezee iirze vy okibo. Te said, Its neat celestial for children breathing by war. Im proud of
you for bringing Painted Back with you. Even you see the inevitability of your own death. I am
not king, I am not king, you shout! It is as though those who defy my reign validate it all the
same. As ideals guide me, I am shown mercy in death - knowing that those I worship exalt me!
Corgea took a few steps forward. Te began to react, but his muscled did not move. With
dark aura burning from his hands to his arms, Corgea lurched forward and throttled the kings
neck with both hands. Te began to reach up to struggle against being choked, but with a strong
clench, Corgea saw the celestials eyes roll up into his head as his arms fell down. As the mana
evaporated, he threw the body with yet another grunt towards the center of the terrace. It skid
across the ground, unreacting.
Corgea gazed at the body as blood oozed out from it, only to mix with the pattering of
rain. The body was not breathing. There was a particular calm that permeated the view - he

heard only his own breath that he could see in the air. A chilling peacefulness that he could
relate back to the Iirnamen graveyard was felt as he looked at the lifeless face. But this death,
this death was by his own hand. He let out a roar as he switched his view up to the celestial flag
that was still flying. The glowing star had green and gold dots spiraled out toward the upper right
corner of the white flag. The cloth had become visibly soaked from the rain and there was a hint
of smoke from behind the castle. With another strike of lightning flashing, his view had whitened
as thunder cracked through the sky with a deafening blow. Corgea looked back towards the
ocean. He got lost in the deep, navy blue. It pounded against the cliffside with untempered
grace. Waves grew and then sunk back down, the blues of the ocean were interrupted by tiny
ripples of the rain coming down. Once he was contented with the view, he hobbled down the
stairs back into the attic, only to find the painted back soldier bringing up the purple robe that he
himself was going to fetch.
This robe. The soldier said, huffing short breaths.
Yes. Corgea replied.
There was a second of silence, the bandana masked soldier searched his belt from
behind his cloak to bring out a wicked dagger. Pointing a finger, Corgea looked down at the
soldier, two steps below him and glared No. The soldier threw the knife into the ocean and
followed Corgea up the steps toward the flag.
Corgea was exhausted, so he sat down with his back against the castle roof that linked
to the granite and watched as the soldier fiddled with the pole. Corgea shifted his head to the
side.
A face. the painted back representative said. The face. Humanity. Is there. He looked back at
the king for a second, but began chuckling as he looked down and began lowering the glowing
star.
Two dots and a smile were painted in black upon both the inside and outside of the
silken robe. As the soldier heard the clank of the robe getting to the top of the pole, he tied the
rope off and looked over at where the king was sitting, but he was nowhere to be found. With a
shrug, the soldier giggled and jumped over the side of the terrace and began climbing down the
rock face. Corgea had climbed to the top of the castle. He slumped down over it and looked
back once he heard the clank. He smiled at the face drawn on the robe and looked down at the
ensuing battle. An audible roar began to overtake the scene as fire flickered and mana glowed
brighter. Corgea began to chuckle.