With the outer tunnels blocked, Jowlani and Nelson venture through the center tunnel.
“We’re going to the lion’s den kid. The time has come to get rid of Caelira. Be brave, and I assure you that this will soon be over.”
As they follow through with their proceedings, they are stopped by her guards as expected.
“Halt, both of you! By orders of the Sovereign, you are under arrest for high treason. Please come along without resistance. If not, the consequences will be your own.”
Nelson nods to Jowlani, who nods back. They’re both handcuffed and then escorted to Caelira’s quarters. Arriving at the scene, they’re waited on by one of her bodyguards.
“That’s who I expected to meet us Jowlani. Remyra’s old bodyguard. He defected to Caelira’s needs after seemingly being infatuated with her. The good thing is that Remyra’s got a hold of someone he holds dear. We can get that leverage back. Follow my lead.”
“You two finally arrived. It’s time for us to end this soon at the Sovereign’s will. You’ve been a pain in the backside of this country for a little too long. It’s holding us back against Altgrön’s upcoming forces. No matter what you say now or do, judgement has already been passed by the holy light. You will now meet the Sovereign to hear the ruling.”
Jowlani and Nelson are escorted into Caelira’s audience chamber. A bright light shines blinding the pair.
When the light dims, Caelira has ascended her throne.
“Lord Sage Nelson, Jowlani Sterwick, you are summoned to this audience chamber to hear the ruling and verdict of your committed crimes.
You have been deemed guilty of high treason against the country of Netralia. For collaborative acts alongside Altgrön to overthrow this government, for plans to assassinate the Sovereign and national leaders, and for sabotage in the construction of our newest city.
The punishment is death by hanging in public. Your heads will be taken from your bodies and dumped into the rubbish, to display the worth you had to this country. That, for all of your loved ones and acquaintances to witness.
You will each get a final word, starting with Jowlani. Make it quick. Your execution awaits.”
Jowlani would love to scream at Caelira at the loudest he could ever do, but knows that will not help him. Their task right now is to stall for time. Hoping that Remyra’s plans turn out to be true.
“Dear Sovereign, thank you for your ruling. Though I know deeply in my heart that your ruling is unjust, I have to abide by that ruling. For that is what we all have chosen to follow. The ruling of our national government and yours in the end. Though I wonder whether things could have been different, if I had followed your lead. Your love is eternal for me, even if you lose me a bit later from now.
I hope that in your heart, you will never forget me. For some it may be disappointing to hear, but your love allowed me to take position as ruler of this country one day. Or from Altgrön, should we capture those lands.
I could have loved you till the end of my days, but an initial rejection has bore this outcome. Reconsidering it is out of the question, but know that I’ll always be your husband in spirits. That is all.”
With the words just spoken, Caelira’s bodyguard is seen gasping for air a bit. He paces a little then utters: “Silence! Your words of cowardness are untrue, and unholy to the ears of the Sovereign. She would have no interest in the love of a coward and traitor like you!”
Caelira is visibly angry and interrupts:
“Guard, silence! No one speaks when the Sovereign is about to speak. Whether or not his words were meant, I have heard them. No one can love me, like I can love myself. No one will ever be able to grasp my heart and take it to share with them.
I am the eternal leader, and no one will ever be able to stop me!”
She starts to laugh maniacally. It seems like the guard has finally caught on that he too, will never be loved by Caelira that much.
He interrupts once more, seemingly shocked: “Sovereign, pardon the interruption. But I feel unwell, and must be replaced.”
Caelira looks at him. “Very well, dismissed and replaced.”
The guard walks out and a short minute after, a new guard has been put into place.
“Time to continue this masterful piece of theatre. The poets and songwriters will write about this. It will all be about me. Back to formalities. Lord Sage Nelson, former leader of Zomerhoven, your last words please.”
Lord Nelson takes a big breath.
“Thank you, dear Sovereign, for giving me the opportunity to speak. It is with the utmost regret that I have to rule your ruling unjust. For you see that I have never been a saboteur. I have never collaborated with the enemy. What is true is that I’ve always aspired to make my city the greatest of the country. Even bigger than the capital. That is the aspiration, not just for me, but for all its citizens.
Wanting to strive for something bigger and better every day is not a dream. It’s the fruition of ambition.
I am delighted to be standing next to a young man like Jowlani Sterwick. His ambitions supersede everyone else’s. Wanting lasting peace for this country and the continent is a thing we both aspired to have.
Knowing that our lives are soon to end, I have one final request for the sovereign herself.
Can she bear it inside her heart to spare our lives at the very last second?
Knowing that if she does so, she gains two of the strongest possible allies in her assets?
Failing to witness that insight, may deem catastrophic for her reign.
So I plea once more, spare our lives and gain our trusted allyship.
What say you, sovereign Caelira?”
Everyone in the room knows her answer. Nelson, Jowlani, Caelira. Even the new guard that has entered the room, can already tell.
“Well, well, well. Trying to beg for your life lord Nelson, just like when we helped you stay in power some seven years ago? That will do you no good at all. My ruling has been granted by the holy light and enforced by me.
As for you Jowlani, you’ve disapproved of my advances loudly. You could have had the world at your feet. Riches till the ceilings shattered, power of the amount of an infinite amount of people. Yet, you rejected that for some other feeble man.
I wanted you to be executed in public, so that the people would follow my lead even more than they do now. But you do not deserve that kindness. I will do it myself, right here and now.
Guard, put them to their knees!”
The guard walks up to Jowlani and Nelson, and demands them to their knees.
“You have heard the Sovereign. On your knees, and prepare to meet your end!”
As the guard passes by, Jowlani catches a glimpse of the identity. He nods in himself.
Caelira descends from her throne, walks down the stairs and stands in front of them.
“Guard, hand me the battle axe. I would have used magic, but I want to make sure you’re dead at my own mercy.”
The guard grabs the axe and walks up to Caelira. Holding the blade and giving the steel end to Caelira, the guard starts mumbling. Caelira still holds her staff in one hand, and tries the axe with the other.
“What are you doing, you fool! Speak up, and let this axe go, so I can finish this!”
The guard doesn’t let go of the axe and speaks up: “Magia antiqua fluere desinit. Vires praeteriti evanescunt. Nunc in aliam dimensionem reclusa.”
The guard lets go of the axe and drops the helmet.
“Magic stopped, witch bitch! Time to run!”
It’s the familiar face who left. Laura’s here. Caelira tries to cast a destructive spell. But her magic won’t work.
“How is this possible? You witch!”
“You’re the bitch witch! I stopped you using some ancient book I found in your room, just a little while ago. Again… time to run!”
Caelira makes a run for it to the exit door, but the door is sealed. She diverts to go behind her throne but then she is greeted from both sides.
“Long time no see, old sparring partner. Do not try to resist, your magic is locked. You have nowhere to go, now all your guards are put asleep. Good work Laura.”
Kelly appears in the frame, wielding her staff.
“Did you miss me babe? L’Tesera would have destroyed you by now. But at the hands of my mercy, you get to live just a couple of seconds more. You take love, but always reject. We could’ve made a fine throuple. You chose power and might, and that is due to end now. Meet the one to end your life of loneliness.”
Kelly points to the other side of the throne. Out comes the one person who’s been hurt by Caelira the most. The one to start a new period of time for Netralia.
“Hello dear Sovereign, or should I say sister? Your time of lust for power and betraying the ones who loved you most, halts here. Many opportunities to better yourself have gone to waste. For what reason? There’s no reason to mention.
You tried to oust your most loyal allies, your brother and potential true lovers. Only to be filled in by people who did not love you like that. Or those who sought power of their own.
People with true hearts, like Kelly, L’Tesera and Jowlani, would have helped you be the best version of yourself. One of those lovers is gone already. And one young man with the best interests of this country in mind, has been sentenced to death by you.
We all know why you did what you did. It’s the magic of your staff that has consumed you. It’s consumed you far enough that even with destroying the magic, your heart remains black. Kelly, if you will please.”
Kelly moves up and stands close to Caelira.
“My apologies love, but this must be done.
Vires magiae nigrae, ex hoc mundo eiecti estote. Redite unde olim venistis. Numquam iterum in hanc terram revertamini.”
Caelira drops to her knees, and drops the staff she has clung onto all this time.
“Arghhh, it hurts. It burns everywhere! My powers are fading, nooooo!”
She lies down flat on the floor.
“This cannot be, my powers are gone! But you will never have this country as long as I live. I will live, I am unbeatable. I am invincible!”
“You have got a black heart, my sister. One that has been touched by this black magic for too many years. We cannot let you leave here, or lock you up. The powers would try to return, as long as you are alive. With you gone, that magic never comes back. That is for certain. It pains me to do this, but it is in the interest of the country. Forgive me holy light, for I will commit sin. I repent and atone for my crime in advance, knowing that your light will shine bright again tomorrow.”
Remyra raises his dagger. As he does, Caelira closes her eyes awaiting her fate, but shouting:
“You will all die soon in the face of war. I’m the best chance you ever had at defeating that bastard country. I would have given you all the power, the riches. Jowlani would have been a man once I was done with him. Kelly more of a woman, Nelson permanent leader of Zomerhoven. And you brother, you would have been… dead for sure!”
As she utters the last word, Remyra strikes the dagger deep in her chest. To ensure the outcome, he then stabs two more times and slits her throat.
Blood goes everywhere, and the lifeless body of the former Sovereign lies in the middle of the audience chamber.
As she utters the last word, Remyra strikes the dagger deep in her chest.
To ensure the outcome, he then stabs two more times and slits her throat.
Blood goes everywhere, and the lifeless body of the former Sovereign lies in the middle of the audience chamber.
Remyra opens the exit door and summons his messengers.
“Send word of what happened here tonight as I dictate it throughout the country.
Sovereign Caelira spoke to her first general Jowlani Sterwick and Lord Sage Nelson of Zomerhoven on defense plans against Altgrön.
Unfortunately, her life ended in a tragic magical explosion, caused by her most loyal guard.
He could not bear he wasn’t chosen to be her first general, his love rejected.
We trust the holy light to give her passage into the most heavenly accommodations for the afterlife. Given current affairs, a period of mourning is not possible.
Though we ask all citizens to think of the Sovereign in minds and hearts.
As per her last wish in her post mortem letters,
Jowlani Sterwick and Zayden Blankermann will be installed as the new leaders of this country.
The Feast of Ascension for leaders will be held at the earliest possible time.
Goodbye dear Sovereign, may your afterlife be in peace with the holy light.”
The messengers are sent out and our allies assemble.
“Thank you Jowlani for believing my words. Nelson, for constructing this plan alongside me. Kelly, I thank you for trusting me, even when you didn’t in the past. Laura, for having worked with me in your disappearance ruse. You are a magnificent actress!”
The time has come for Netralia to step into a new age of unity. Though there’s one person missing from this. Enter!”
Zayden is coming into the room. He runs towards Jowlani and jumps in his arms.
“You did it! I knew you could, but I was so scared for all of it. I couldn’t be without you, ever!
“Thank you so much for being with me all this time. I love you so much, I could never miss you either. Thank you Remyra, Nelson, Kelly for all you’ve done. And Laura, you cheeky witch! Can always trust on you to help me out!
It’s time to rest everyone. I’m tired, I’m hungry, I’ve missed my boyfriend and friends. Tomorrow, we begin our efforts in making this country united again.
Let’s make the war short, sweet and with no bloodshed if possible as well.”
Caelira’s body has been discarded by Remyra at night, so that no one else knows the details.
That makes espionage on the inside almost impossible.
Loose ends on what happened in the audience chamber have been carefully cleaned by Remyra as well.
No one else had knowledge on the plans, and nobody can be judged on it therefore.
With Caelira gone, a new day is dawning over Netralia.
A new chapter to be written with young and fresh leadership, supported by many.
I'm Amethyst, 31, and from the Netherlands. I've always had a passion for adventure in roleplaying games. Being able to immerse myself into these universes allowed me to escape the trauma's of my youth. Now I want to share my gaming passion with all of you!
