ACT VI
THE AGE OF UNDEAD
“What the hell was that?” Bernard shouted at his son, “Is this why you learn that power? Hurting the Imperial—”
“You knew?” Chris asked, confused as to why his father had not shared this with him. Enraged, he argued, “If you knew about it, then why did you allow me to make friends with him? After what their family has done to ours.”
“Whatever the Imperials did, it ended with me and King Samson. You are as innocent as that young prince".
"Then what am I supposed to do, I tried my best, and still I couldn’t stop him… I tried… I really gave my all…and failed, father.”
“I know son… but that’s how farther you can go under my shadow… I have seen first-hand how powerful the imperial bloodline could be. But to reach that potential, I’m not a teacher.” Bernard paused, “You better pray that young prince woke fast. 'Cause there are a lot of people waiting to vent their anger on us.”
“But Hans is—”
“Your friend. Didn’t he?” Bernard patted Chis and stressed, “He knew who you were and still he remained a loyal friend. That’s how he was raised, not as his tyrannical ancestors.”
“But," Chris argued, "You can’t change the blood—”
“Yet that very blood, at least some fraction of it flows through your veins. Your mother was a distant relative to the Imperial family. You know that very well, don’t you?”
“Yes.” Chris mumbled looking down.
“Then is there is a guarantee, you won’t turn out like them,?” Bernard asked.
“I’m not like them—”
“Then what right do you have to judge that boy what he could be or not” Bernard asked wearing a sad smile.
“You didn’t see him. I don’t know why I didn’t notice before. But what is written in the Clandor records about the imperials, is right. Violence is their second nature, they don’t think of consequences and crave chaos. What he did to proctors was extreme—”
“All I saw was a responsible leader in him." Bernard emphasised, "I don’t know his reasoning but he prioritised his comrades before him. He sent you all back foremos—”
“No, he did not.” Chris argued, “Delimira was on the verge of dying but all he could see was his goal.”
“A leader who forgets his goal is no better than a blind man.” Bernard quoted, continuing, “In his actions, all I saw was someone avenging the injustice my son had suffered. A friend avenging his comrades’ hard work.”
“But—”
“Stop finding the excuse to hate him, Christopher.” Bernard said in a stern voice, “Someone I respected said to me Sins are not inherited. Not mine nor his father’s shall pass down to young generation. So forget my past, live your damn life.”
“But one day, he will come for you.” Chris stated, downcast, “To him… you’d be only a traitor—”
“But that’s what I am son. If I feared for my life then I wouldn't have saved him when Elves searched for any kin related to Imperials.”
His father’s sudden words felt like a bolt out of the blue for him, but hope simmered in his eyes. He thought, maybe he could plead to Hans to spare his father on that account. He looked ahead to confirm his thoughts, but Bernard stated in a solemn tone, “I will bear the weight of my actions. I have earned my death and when my time comes—”
“No. We could find some other way—”
“Hope is the worst enemy of all, my son. It torments you like none other.”
“But the world exists on hope Father.”
“I see,” Bernard let out a soft chuckle, “you learned to gab, influence of your company, I guess.” Calmed, after having a heartfelt conversation with his father, Chris recalled what had happened in the arena, surprised and confused by the events, he asked his father, “Just what is he? No human can do it—”
“I don’t know either. The only thing I can relate him to is the Elderwood. Back in the day, I, King Samson and the other two hunted the last ElderWood. A scary classless beast. We fought for several days and Xandor finally killed that wretched thing.” Bernard paused, taking a breather and continued, “This is not meant to be shared son. So don’t whisper this to your pointy friends.” He warned prompting a nod from Chris in response and explained, “I asked King what he was going to use him for and he replied, a living weapon. That’s all I knew till I saw the creature reviving in Young Prince.”
“Oh!” Chris understood, nodding. So patting his back, Bernard asked, “Shall we go, now?” Prompting Chris to raise his head, “To see how your friend is doing.” he said with a warm smile.
Chris was scared to face Hans, disappointed in himself, he wanted to hide away, but his father urged him to follow. He led him out, there were a lot of things he had to settle with others too, one particular with Rudolf. Reaching the Concordia’s allotted stay. He entered alerting many individuals, but before Rudolf could go ballistic on him, he knelt before him. “I have no words for what my son has done to the boy but, please forgive him.”
“You have some nerve showing your mug here, Bernard—”
“My reckoning is inevitable, sir. But my child is innocent. You used to say, that sins are not inherited. Please abide by your words." Bernard glanced the downcast Chris and said, "My son only fought, putting his everything on the line.” Bernard looked past Rudolf, setting his eyes on a young boy lying on the bed, and continued, “This…was never his intention.”
“How dare you…how dare you teach my skills to that brat.” Rudolf bellowed in anger, baffling every listener. Almost everyone thought that the bewitched knight was angry because Hans was on the bed, but this was not the reasoning lingered in Rudolf’s head. Confused like others, Bernard, speechless, stared at bellowing Rudolf. He spoke, hesitatingly, “H..that..because…yours are the best skills…”
“Even if that is the case. Don’t you have any ethics or morals?”
“He…” Bernard glanced at his son, standing by his side, “He idolised you from the beginning…He wanted to be like you. I couldn’t help but teach him. They are half-baked—”
“Half baked, my ass. You copied everything to the boot.” Rudolf groaned, knowing what he said was accurate.
Bernard, still on his knees, put together his thoughts. This was not how he wanted this conversation to steer, but it started at a very awkward point. “How is he?” He asked, anxiously glancing at the lying prince.
“Hmm…” Rudolf turned back to Bernard, he finished ranting about what he was holding back about his skills being copied. So now, it was the time to talk about the behemoth in the room, “You know, the only reason you are still alive is because you brought Hans alive, right?”
Bernard nodded, unable to voice his opinion on that matter. So Rudolf asked him, what he was curious about for ages, “Let me ask you just one thing, Bernard Holger. Why did a loyal bastard such as yourself, went on and backstab his king. Did he—”
“No it’s not what you are thinking,” Bernard denied firmly, explaining, “It's not because of his grand plan or scheme. I protected what I swore to protect. I wanted him to live, to live more than anything, but he… he did something that I can’t forgive him for.”
“And what was that?” Rudolf prompted, stressing, “Just what happened back then?”
“Please that’s all I can say,” Bernard rejected, continuing, “I want you and others to remember him as the mighty king who lived for his beliefs. I failed him, but the least I can do is to protect his honour. What happened back there, shall die with me whenever my time comes.” Bernard pushed his son forward, urging him, “So please teach him so the past won’t repeat itself.”
“You mean—”
“Yes, you understand correct. My boy is heavily influenced by elves, hates his motherland and you know very well that he can’t flourish under my guidance. You are the only one who could teach him. So today won't repeat agai—”
“I don’t want to… I might have spared you on the account of you bringing Hans to us. But that’s it, my generosity ends there. I'm sorry that I got enraged at him before and here I'm swearing on my honour, I share no ill will towards your son. He has shown an excellent battle against Hans and he is worthy of the praise, but that’s all. You can leave.” Rudolf declared and Bernard took his son without urging him further. He knew it was not easy for Rudolf to foster Chris, but this was the only way he could distance Chris from the rising tension in the Clandor.
Three days have passed since the battle between Hans and Chris and yet Hans showed no sign of waking up. This was the first time Sierra saw her divine spell failing since it showed no effect on Hans except healing his wounds.
THREE DAYS AGO, CHRIS AND HANS’s BATTLE
As Hans faced a judgemental window in the semi finals, his friend and opponent faced a new message popping in front of him.
| MISSION PASSED |
Chris looked past the message, he saw Hans agonising, his screams echoing everywhere. He did not understood what was happening. Hans was squirming with pain, writhing and rolling down the ground. It looked like something was eating him from the inside and as Delimira reached and held him, he lost consciousness.
“Wake up you moron,” She shook him, adding, “We still have to fight. I didn’t get to settle our scores yet. You need a beating from me. So wake up.”
Chris shivered, confused as to why Hans was acting like this. It was him who had two grave wounds in the stomach, he lost and yet, others couldn’t feel much breath from Hans. It was so shallow that it was hard to tell whether he was alive or not. “Hey…Han..s,” he mumbled, trying to approach him.
“Stop it, bastard,” Rudolf shouted and his thunder punch aimed right at Chris’s face. It would have blown Chris into smithereens if Bernard hadn’t stepped in to protecting him.
“Let's save him first. I can’t let my son carry the same fate as mine. please.” Bernard urged Rudolf and Walter quickly stepped in, lifting Hans’s soulless body into his arms, “What are you waiting for, a fucking invitation.” He shouted at Rudolf, stressing his words and ran as fast as he could toward approaching Sierra.
“Hey farm boy, wake up.”
.
.
“Hey…I’ll stop calling you, so wake up”
…
.
.
“Wake up Hans. I’ll forgive you… just wake up.”
..
.
“Prince, you cannot fall. You have great things to do.”
.
.
.
“Take a good rest, my child, but please hurry, you are all I have—”
“What about me, dear.” Rudolf joked, hoping Hans to wake up and retaliate, but he kept sleeping. The only thing he remembered was the glossy message that came like a painkiller before he lost consciousness.
| ACTIVATING FORCED HIBERNATION |
ACT VI
THE AGE OF UNDEAD
“What the hell was that?” Bernard shouted at his son, “Is this why you learn that power? Hurting the Imperial—”
“You knew?” Chris asked, confused as to why his father had not shared this with him. Enraged, he argued, “If you knew about it, then why did you allow me to make friends with him? After what their family has done to ours.”
“Whatever the Imperials did, it ended with me and King Samson. You are as innocent as that young prince".
"Then what am I supposed to do, I tried my best, and still I couldn’t stop him… I tried… I really gave my all…and failed, father.”
“I know son… but that’s how farther you can go under my shadow… I have seen first-hand how powerful the imperial bloodline could be. But to reach that potential, I’m not a teacher.” Bernard paused, “You better pray that young prince woke fast. 'Cause there are a lot of people waiting to vent their anger on us.”
“But Hans is—”
“Your friend. Didn’t he?” Bernard patted Chis and stressed, “He knew who you were and still he remained a loyal friend. That’s how he was raised, not as his tyrannical ancestors.”
“But," Chris argued, "You can’t change the blood—”
“Yet that very blood, at least some fraction of it flows through your veins. Your mother was a distant relative to the Imperial family. You know that very well, don’t you?”
“Yes.” Chris mumbled looking down.
“Then is there is a guarantee, you won’t turn out like them,?” Bernard asked.
“I’m not like them—”
“Then what right do you have to judge that boy what he could be or not” Bernard asked wearing a sad smile.
“You didn’t see him. I don’t know why I didn’t notice before. But what is written in the Clandor records about the imperials, is right. Violence is their second nature, they don’t think of consequences and crave chaos. What he did to proctors was extreme—”
“All I saw was a responsible leader in him." Bernard emphasised, "I don’t know his reasoning but he prioritised his comrades before him. He sent you all back foremos—”
“No, he did not.” Chris argued, “Delimira was on the verge of dying but all he could see was his goal.”
“A leader who forgets his goal is no better than a blind man.” Bernard quoted, continuing, “In his actions, all I saw was someone avenging the injustice my son had suffered. A friend avenging his comrades’ hard work.”
“But—”
“Stop finding the excuse to hate him, Christopher.” Bernard said in a stern voice, “Someone I respected said to me Sins are not inherited. Not mine nor his father’s shall pass down to young generation. So forget my past, live your damn life.”
“But one day, he will come for you.” Chris stated, downcast, “To him… you’d be only a traitor—”
“But that’s what I am son. If I feared for my life then I wouldn't have saved him when Elves searched for any kin related to Imperials.”
His father’s sudden words felt like a bolt out of the blue for him, but hope simmered in his eyes. He thought, maybe he could plead to Hans to spare his father on that account. He looked ahead to confirm his thoughts, but Bernard stated in a solemn tone, “I will bear the weight of my actions. I have earned my death and when my time comes—”
“No. We could find some other way—”
“Hope is the worst enemy of all, my son. It torments you like none other.”
“But the world exists on hope Father.”
“I see,” Bernard let out a soft chuckle, “you learned to gab, influence of your company, I guess.” Calmed, after having a heartfelt conversation with his father, Chris recalled what had happened in the arena, surprised and confused by the events, he asked his father, “Just what is he? No human can do it—”
“I don’t know either. The only thing I can relate him to is the Elderwood. Back in the day, I, King Samson and the other two hunted the last ElderWood. A scary classless beast. We fought for several days and Xandor finally killed that wretched thing.” Bernard paused, taking a breather and continued, “This is not meant to be shared son. So don’t whisper this to your pointy friends.” He warned prompting a nod from Chris in response and explained, “I asked King what he was going to use him for and he replied, a living weapon. That’s all I knew till I saw the creature reviving in Young Prince.”
“Oh!” Chris understood, nodding. So patting his back, Bernard asked, “Shall we go, now?” Prompting Chris to raise his head, “To see how your friend is doing.” he said with a warm smile.
Chris was scared to face Hans, disappointed in himself, he wanted to hide away, but his father urged him to follow. He led him out, there were a lot of things he had to settle with others too, one particular with Rudolf. Reaching the Concordia’s allotted stay. He entered alerting many individuals, but before Rudolf could go ballistic on him, he knelt before him. “I have no words for what my son has done to the boy but, please forgive him.”
“You have some nerve showing your mug here, Bernard—”
“My reckoning is inevitable, sir. But my child is innocent. You used to say, that sins are not inherited. Please abide by your words." Bernard glanced the downcast Chris and said, "My son only fought, putting his everything on the line.” Bernard looked past Rudolf, setting his eyes on a young boy lying on the bed, and continued, “This…was never his intention.”
“How dare you…how dare you teach my skills to that brat.” Rudolf bellowed in anger, baffling every listener. Almost everyone thought that the bewitched knight was angry because Hans was on the bed, but this was not the reasoning lingered in Rudolf’s head. Confused like others, Bernard, speechless, stared at bellowing Rudolf. He spoke, hesitatingly, “H..that..because…yours are the best skills…”
“Even if that is the case. Don’t you have any ethics or morals?”
“He…” Bernard glanced at his son, standing by his side, “He idolised you from the beginning…He wanted to be like you. I couldn’t help but teach him. They are half-baked—”
“Half baked, my ass. You copied everything to the boot.” Rudolf groaned, knowing what he said was accurate.
Bernard, still on his knees, put together his thoughts. This was not how he wanted this conversation to steer, but it started at a very awkward point. “How is he?” He asked, anxiously glancing at the lying prince.
“Hmm…” Rudolf turned back to Bernard, he finished ranting about what he was holding back about his skills being copied. So now, it was the time to talk about the behemoth in the room, “You know, the only reason you are still alive is because you brought Hans alive, right?”
Bernard nodded, unable to voice his opinion on that matter. So Rudolf asked him, what he was curious about for ages, “Let me ask you just one thing, Bernard Holger. Why did a loyal bastard such as yourself, went on and backstab his king. Did he—”
“No it’s not what you are thinking,” Bernard denied firmly, explaining, “It's not because of his grand plan or scheme. I protected what I swore to protect. I wanted him to live, to live more than anything, but he… he did something that I can’t forgive him for.”
“And what was that?” Rudolf prompted, stressing, “Just what happened back then?”
“Please that’s all I can say,” Bernard rejected, continuing, “I want you and others to remember him as the mighty king who lived for his beliefs. I failed him, but the least I can do is to protect his honour. What happened back there, shall die with me whenever my time comes.” Bernard pushed his son forward, urging him, “So please teach him so the past won’t repeat itself.”
“You mean—”
“Yes, you understand correct. My boy is heavily influenced by elves, hates his motherland and you know very well that he can’t flourish under my guidance. You are the only one who could teach him. So today won't repeat agai—”
“I don’t want to… I might have spared you on the account of you bringing Hans to us. But that’s it, my generosity ends there. I'm sorry that I got enraged at him before and here I'm swearing on my honour, I share no ill will towards your son. He has shown an excellent battle against Hans and he is worthy of the praise, but that’s all. You can leave.” Rudolf declared and Bernard took his son without urging him further. He knew it was not easy for Rudolf to foster Chris, but this was the only way he could distance Chris from the rising tension in the Clandor.
Three days have passed since the battle between Hans and Chris and yet Hans showed no sign of waking up. This was the first time Sierra saw her divine spell failing since it showed no effect on Hans except healing his wounds.
THREE DAYS AGO, CHRIS AND HANS’s BATTLE
As Hans faced a judgemental window in the semi finals, his friend and opponent faced a new message popping in front of him.
| MISSION PASSED |
Chris looked past the message, he saw Hans agonising, his screams echoing everywhere. He did not understood what was happening. Hans was squirming with pain, writhing and rolling down the ground. It looked like something was eating him from the inside and as Delimira reached and held him, he lost consciousness.
“Wake up you moron,” She shook him, adding, “We still have to fight. I didn’t get to settle our scores yet. You need a beating from me. So wake up.”
Chris shivered, confused as to why Hans was acting like this. It was him who had two grave wounds in the stomach, he lost and yet, others couldn’t feel much breath from Hans. It was so shallow that it was hard to tell whether he was alive or not. “Hey…Han..s,” he mumbled, trying to approach him.
“Stop it, bastard,” Rudolf shouted and his thunder punch aimed right at Chris’s face. It would have blown Chris into smithereens if Bernard hadn’t stepped in to protecting him.
“Let's save him first. I can’t let my son carry the same fate as mine. please.” Bernard urged Rudolf and Walter quickly stepped in, lifting Hans’s soulless body into his arms, “What are you waiting for, a fucking invitation.” He shouted at Rudolf, stressing his words and ran as fast as he could toward approaching Sierra.
“Hey farm boy, wake up.”
.
.
“Hey…I’ll stop calling you, so wake up”
…
.
.
“Wake up Hans. I’ll forgive you… just wake up.”
..
.
“Prince, you cannot fall. You have great things to do.”
.
.
.
“Take a good rest, my child, but please hurry, you are all I have—”
“What about me, dear.” Rudolf joked, hoping Hans to wake up and retaliate, but he kept sleeping. The only thing he remembered was the glossy message that came like a painkiller before he lost consciousness.
| ACTIVATING FORCED HIBERNATION |
