Home...

The last of the Magrins had arrived in Ravena. One of them was the princess, who was a humanoid sentient covered in slime. Her name was Princess Atrina, and she was going to be the new heir to the throne of Ravena. Accompanied by the Golden Eagle Guards, the castle doors opened for her to see the destruction brought upon by the recent battle.

Pillars were scratched from around the hall, furniture was destroyed and were all over the place, while bodies were continuing to be transferred out of the castle. The Aeryth bodies were being kicked on the ground by the Holy Knights, while the Red Blood Regiment was resting after the bloody incident. Kindred was in the corner of the royal hall, leaning at the wall on the right side of the throne. He was pondering his thoughts on something in his hand. The insignia was covered in dried blood, and Kindred only looked at it in a blank expression. To him, she was one of the only people that was dearest to him. Kindred had hopes of teaching her how to lead, as she was teaching Kindred something he had not thought of for a while.

“You alright?”

Alvin said as he arrived. He sat down beside the general. Kindred followed suit and slid his back on the wall as the other officers arrived. Goner, Oliver, Gold, Kai, Anno, Kaku, Leon, Jim, and Aida followed as they sat in a circle. A tear rolled down his eye. The more he looked at the insignia, the more their memories started picking up. Alvin then put his hand on his shoulder.

“Wherever she is General, she’s in a better place now."

Alvin said as Kindred sighed in an expression of grief. Kindred then looked at Atrina, who was now sitting at the throne to celebrate the spoils of victory. He then looked at the countless bodies being transported outside. And he then looked at the different regiments helping out the reconstruction of the kingdom. Kindred then saw the shifter corpses being tossed out into the pathways, as if they were being served for the crows. Kindred’s hands, through the scene, tightened his grip on the insignia. He stared at the mistreatment and revelled in it, before looking at the rest in a more determined manner.

“Kai. I shall now be promoting you to the rank of general. May you lead this regiment well.”

Kindred said before standing up. The red blood officers were shocked by this revelation, and perhaps too shocked. It was something they did not expect, maybe because they expected Alvin to be the next general - but they knew too well that Alvin, being the role model of the RBR soldiers, is already perfect for his position at the moment. The red general walked away towards the main door, still holding the insignia. The officers were too stunned to even say anything. As the door opened, he saw the holy knights, still kicking a corpse of an Aeryth member. As Kindred then got out to the main well, he saw Morticia’s pale body lying still on a platform made of wooden sticks. She looked like she was resting peacefully, and it was indeed a peaceful sight to see. Her hair was braided, while she had a flower crown to finish her burial outfit. She wore her iconic standard uniform, and she was along the countless bodies organized outside. Kindred walked up to her and he put the insignia on her hand. Because if there was something Morticia had taught him, it’s that love is something powerful that cannot be easily replaced

“I loved you, Morticia.” He whispered, before continuing to walk, heading towards the outer gates. As he continued though, he saw the organized corpses being lit like bonfires as a sign that the ceremony has started, all except for the members of the clan of Aeryth. He looked at Morticia, then looked at the Aeryth members. He thought, if Morticia was here, if Crescentia was still here, perhaps if the other ones that died were still here, what would they do? What would this war turn into? And what would the world be, knowing what happened in the aftermath of this battle? All this, made Kindred look back towards the gate, as he then said…

“Men, give the clan of Aeryth a proper burial along with our comrades.”

“What do you think you’re doi-”

Lady Ellen said as she then stormed towards Kindred, before being pointed at by several members of the red blood regiment. The Order of the Holy knights then replied with them reaching for their weapons. But Kindred only raised his hand telling everyone to stop. Donk Tonk arrived with his massive size, making the soldiers of the red regiment walk back a bit in fear, but Kindred stood his ground with a blank face, and said…

“I’m done here.”

He then continued his walk, reaching out for his satchel. Ellen then ordered the knights to stand down, and Donk Tonk followed suit. The rest of the red regiment soldiers then started to get the bodies, while Kindred raised several flasks, all filled with a dark liquid. He then threw them down the ground, causing them to break. Black smoke suddenly engulfed him. Soon after, the White Knights Regiment broke the smoke with their entrance. But along with their arrival, Kindred was never seen with them, and with this, he disappeared from the castle.

“Goodbye, Kindred.” General Ailyn said. “I guess this is the end of the war.”

“No.” General Kai said. “We have only scratched the surface.”

—---

“Father!”