This spans from the prologue to the first chapters, though the following posts, unless otherwise stated, will be each a single chapter long only.
Prologue
Do you remember the war of Good and Evil?
Looking back on it now, it seems so foolish.
We labeled each other during the war. the 'Good' and the 'Evil'. the Evil was of course the government, tyrannical and corrupt as it was. The monarchy that had rule us for generations was suddenly 'Evil', and the Revolutionaries, the 'Good' were there to overthrow it.
As a whole, it was called the Rebellion, and it was always called 'Good'. Because surely if they were plotting to overthrow the 'Evil' monarchy they all had to be 'Good', right?
Looking back on it now, we were foolish to call them 'Good' so easily.
While most may have had honest reasons to join the rebellion, and most genuinely thought it wad what was best for the nation, everyone was so busy praising those people to pay attention the the ones who didn't have a genuine, honest reason. We overlooked the ones who were doing it for their own gain, while patting the truly Good ones on the back.
Who were we to decide it, really? Who were we to say the who was 'Good' and who was 'Evil' anyway?
No one thought like this back then, though. Everyone was either too fixated on the Rebels and their idealist views or too busy trying to stay alive under the tyrannical rule. I can't say I blame them for not noticing, really. I'm sure I'm the same, though that isn't the point.
Other people didn't think about it, but she did.
She was the daughter of the 'Evil' emperor. Of course, because of that lineage, she was thought to have been Evil as well. She wasn't though, anybody who knew her, really knew her, I mean, knew that. Sadly, there were few who knew her that well.
This didn't mean she was good, however. In fact, she was far from good. She hardly believed in the goodness of people, and she was paranoid of everyone and anyone, from the beggar on the streets, the minister in the court, to her own trusted, most loyal maidservant. Looking back on it now, perhaps it was a problem — whether it was emotional or mental I'm not sure — she had dealt with for a long time. After all, she hadn't exactly grown up in a trusting environment.
It's still hard to feel sorry for her, though. Her reign was the bloodiest the Nation of Galiend had seen in a long time. Countless people had been executed, some in rather gruesome ways, and even more had been imprisoned. This might be what won her her place in history.
However, we mustn't overlook that her reign was also the most peaceful in quite a while. No war, from in or out of the nation, struck during her reign — perhaps everyone was too afraid. And though she may have accidentally executed a few innocents on the way, most of the people she jailed, punished, or executed weren't exactly nice people. Some were corrupt though loved officials, others old members of the Rebellion who were too loved as Good to be thought of the scum they really were, and there were those who people simply couldn't accept were guilty of anything, even now.
People seem to overlook that fact, though. I fear her name will be forever tarnished with the blood she had spilled on her way to the top. But that's why I'm here, you see. I'm here to write her story, the TRUE story. From the day her life changed forever when she was still the Imperial Princess, to the day she passed on, I'll write about the life and times of the Empress of Galiend.
People may not believe this when they read this. That's alright, I suppose. They don't have to believe it. But out of the hundreds that don't believe me, maybe one, just one will. and maybe that one person will pass on this story to another, and from there, to another. So that even when she's long gone, here memory can carry on.
It's not just her memory, though. It's his as well. Him, the elusive Hero of the Good, who was the spear of the Rebellion. The man who single-handedly ended the war between the Monarchy and the Rebellion. I don't know about his birth and childhood, but I know of his time with her, and his death. Oh, how I know of his death. Here, his true story can be told as well. And then maybe people can judge how Good the Hero of the Good really was.
That's the point of this book. To make you think twice. To get you into the minds of these two individuals, a symbol of Good and a symbol of Evil. I'll make you think twice about how you feel about them.
Now get yourself comfortable. And read the story of the Good and the Evil...
Looking back on it now, it seems so foolish.
We labeled each other during the war. the 'Good' and the 'Evil'. the Evil was of course the government, tyrannical and corrupt as it was. The monarchy that had rule us for generations was suddenly 'Evil', and the Revolutionaries, the 'Good' were there to overthrow it.
As a whole, it was called the Rebellion, and it was always called 'Good'. Because surely if they were plotting to overthrow the 'Evil' monarchy they all had to be 'Good', right?
Looking back on it now, we were foolish to call them 'Good' so easily.
While most may have had honest reasons to join the rebellion, and most genuinely thought it wad what was best for the nation, everyone was so busy praising those people to pay attention the the ones who didn't have a genuine, honest reason. We overlooked the ones who were doing it for their own gain, while patting the truly Good ones on the back.
Who were we to decide it, really? Who were we to say the who was 'Good' and who was 'Evil' anyway?
No one thought like this back then, though. Everyone was either too fixated on the Rebels and their idealist views or too busy trying to stay alive under the tyrannical rule. I can't say I blame them for not noticing, really. I'm sure I'm the same, though that isn't the point.
Other people didn't think about it, but she did.
She was the daughter of the 'Evil' emperor. Of course, because of that lineage, she was thought to have been Evil as well. She wasn't though, anybody who knew her, really knew her, I mean, knew that. Sadly, there were few who knew her that well.
This didn't mean she was good, however. In fact, she was far from good. She hardly believed in the goodness of people, and she was paranoid of everyone and anyone, from the beggar on the streets, the minister in the court, to her own trusted, most loyal maidservant. Looking back on it now, perhaps it was a problem — whether it was emotional or mental I'm not sure — she had dealt with for a long time. After all, she hadn't exactly grown up in a trusting environment.
It's still hard to feel sorry for her, though. Her reign was the bloodiest the Nation of Galiend had seen in a long time. Countless people had been executed, some in rather gruesome ways, and even more had been imprisoned. This might be what won her her place in history.
However, we mustn't overlook that her reign was also the most peaceful in quite a while. No war, from in or out of the nation, struck during her reign — perhaps everyone was too afraid. And though she may have accidentally executed a few innocents on the way, most of the people she jailed, punished, or executed weren't exactly nice people. Some were corrupt though loved officials, others old members of the Rebellion who were too loved as Good to be thought of the scum they really were, and there were those who people simply couldn't accept were guilty of anything, even now.
People seem to overlook that fact, though. I fear her name will be forever tarnished with the blood she had spilled on her way to the top. But that's why I'm here, you see. I'm here to write her story, the TRUE story. From the day her life changed forever when she was still the Imperial Princess, to the day she passed on, I'll write about the life and times of the Empress of Galiend.
People may not believe this when they read this. That's alright, I suppose. They don't have to believe it. But out of the hundreds that don't believe me, maybe one, just one will. and maybe that one person will pass on this story to another, and from there, to another. So that even when she's long gone, here memory can carry on.
It's not just her memory, though. It's his as well. Him, the elusive Hero of the Good, who was the spear of the Rebellion. The man who single-handedly ended the war between the Monarchy and the Rebellion. I don't know about his birth and childhood, but I know of his time with her, and his death. Oh, how I know of his death. Here, his true story can be told as well. And then maybe people can judge how Good the Hero of the Good really was.
That's the point of this book. To make you think twice. To get you into the minds of these two individuals, a symbol of Good and a symbol of Evil. I'll make you think twice about how you feel about them.
Now get yourself comfortable. And read the story of the Good and the Evil...
Chapter One
Being captured is an incredible inconvenience for anyone.
However, for some, being the captor was an even bigger inconvenience.
Twice already the captive had been rushed to different locations, at least ten times he had to be checked for weaponry — at least five times various weapons had turned up — and now, he had to be checked for spy ware.
This would take far longer than any of the various other searches though, so they decided to play a joke or prank or sorts, on both the poor victim and the innocent captor.
They sent the captive in half naked.
The captor was not amused.
The Imperial Princess of Galiend literally kicked the men out of the room before they could present him. her face was flushed with either anger, embarrassment, or both. Either way, no one wanted to stick around to find out.
"Put some bloody clothes on the man!" she screamed as she looked out the door. "Just what the hell do you take me for?!"
And so they had to dress him in a new, bug-free outfit before sending him back in.
However, the strangest thing was probably that they didn't bring him in with any shackles or chains, nothing to restrain him. They let him walk in still a threat to the Imperial Princess. Which was exactly what she had wanted.
As soon as he entered, her bodyguards and servants were dismissed. Only one stayed back, her most loyal maidservant and lady-in-waiting, a redheaded girl named Maeya. She did little more than sit at the window seat with her nose in the book, however, so he didn't give her much thought.
The Princess stood as he entered. Not to show respect, but instead to intimidate him and get respect for she herself, for she was of tall and regal stature that demanded the respect of everyone, from her allies to her enemies. And more often than not, she got it.
He leaned down slightly to meet her dark eyes. She may have been tall, but he still towered over her by half a foot. Despite this, however, he suddenly felt more intimidated than he had wanted her to feel. It was her eyes, no doubt. Two black pools of oblivion, they were. And sharp enough to make the world's strongest feel like ants in her presence.
He realized then that he had made his first mistake of the day — he underestimated his opponent.
After basking in the smug glory of her first victory, the Princess turned and walked over to the desk. Well, she didn't walk there so much as glide there, with just enough force to show her presence. Even her steps were elegant and regal, it seemed.
The man scanned his surroundings for anything he could use as a weapon — a letter opener, scissors, anything. Nothing came up, however. Once again he found himself cursing himself for underestimating her once again.
Unbeknown to them both, the maidservant at the corner of the room glanced up from her book. She could see his clenched fists and the way he followed her movements, the way a lion watched it's prey. Maeya tensed and bit her lower lip, but she would wait. Those were the Princess' orders, after all.
"I've heard it said," he said evenly as he watched the Princess take her seat. He had decided to buy more time to look around, asses his surroundings and try his luck at finding another weapon. "That the Imperial Princess of Galiend is the most beautiful in all of Galiend," He smirked. "I'm sorely disappointed,"
She was not offended, much to his utter annoyance. "Disappointed in what? In the fact that I am not what people say, or in the fact that your so call 'Good' comrades lied to you?" She emphasized the word Good with mocking and sarcasm.
Unable to retort, he simply gritted his teeth and glared at her. He had expected her to be intimidated. She wasn't.
The Imperial Princess took a sear and crossed her long legs elegantly. "Take a seat, sir," she offered, motioning to the empty chair not far away. "What's your name?"
He stood, nearing her. Maeya glanced at her employer, but the Princess made subtle, dismissive wave with her hand, not enough to be seen by the opponent, but enough to order the maidservant to calm.
"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours," he opted, keeping his voice even.
She grinned mockingly. "Do you promise? On your honor?" Her voice was filled with mocking. "I do love how you lot try to hold to that 'Code of Honor' crap. It's amusing, if not a little depressing, how you fool yourselves into thinking you believe in such shams,"
"I promise," he said, evenly.
Her grin turned sinister as she revealed a few of her sharp incisors. "On your honor?"
He gritted his teeth, trying unsuccessfully to hide his anger. "On my honor,"
She nodded, and in a mock attempt at courtesy, introduced herself. "My name is Arianna Lucrezia Galienne,"
Grudgingly, he replied, "Caelan Richardson," He advanced, fists clenched, having thought he found the right moment. Maeya stood, but the Princess shot her a pointed look that ordered her to sit back down.
"How uncourteous," she said calmly. "Trying to attack your host?"
"You aren't my host, you're my captor," he corrected. It was his turn to be mocking now. "Tell me where I am,"
"I'm afraid that's classified information," she replied, shrugging her shoulders passively.
"Then I'm afraid I'm going to have you make it unclassified," he replied in as calm a voice as he could manage.
She shrugged. "You can try, I suppose. But you're going to have to do more than make empty threats,"
"Who said I'm making empty threats?" he breathed, closing in. She back up until she hit the surface of the desk. He grinned, coding in on her. They both knew she was cornered, but only he would admit it.
A hand clasped around her throat, not enough to hurt her in anyway, but enough she invoke a good amount of fear in anyone. Anyone but her, maybe.
"Well?"
She shrugged, trying to stare into his eyes. Not an easy task when you're being held up a feet higher than eye level. "You're not going to hurt me,"
He let put a breathe, feeling what little patience he had left for this situation drain. "Give me one reason not to,"
"I can give you two," she grinned. "Firstly, it goes against your 'Code of Honor' to harm a lady,"
"I think a little breach in the rules will be justified in such a situation,"
"Typical," she laughed mockingly. "As I said before, your Code of Honors are nothing but a sham, cast aside the moment they're inconvenient. Put a lady of my court in one of your prisons and she'd be dead by dawn..." She winced, the first amour of emotion other than mocking she had shown that day. "Or... worse,"
"Is that empathy I see, Princess, or a trick of the light?" he mocked.
"Neither," she replied. A lie, but a good one. "Merely stating facts,"
"Well," he said, choosing his words carefully, "Our Codes don't extend to those on the side of Evil,"
She really did laugh at this. "I don't know whether to pity you or mock you,"
He squeezed her throat. She widened his eyes in shock. But while he paid attention to her expression, he didn't notice her free hand grabbing onto the crisp fabric of the new shirt. He didn't notice until she literally stabbed her long fingernails through the cloth and scratched him the way a cat would an antagonizing dog.
Startled, he looked at her, seeing her grin. He tightened his grip, making her choke. She gasped before swinging her leg, that had been resting on the table, up to kick him. The high heels added to the damage, much to her sadistic glee. He staggered backwards from the impact, forced to release her.
She stood as he staggered, regaining her cool composure though the red marks on her neck were more than a little apparent. "I suppose your attitude proves to me how good you really are,"
He lunged at her, but she quickly stepped aside. "Listen to what I have to say, would you?" she sighed. "Don't make me regret not having you brought here bound in chains,"
"What do you have to talk to me about?" he snarled, straightening up to full height.
She looked up at him to see into his eyes. "The Seventh Spear,"
He stared at her dubiously. "What are you talking about?"
The Princess nodded as if she had expected this. She turned to the maidservant, who dutifully went over to her side, holding the thin shroud in her hands. The man, Caelan, looked at her suspiciously. "What're you doing?"
Ignoring him, the Princess turned and removed her coat, revealing the robe beneath it. She removed it halfway, showing a back full of elaborate scars. At first he didn't understand, but when Maeya covered her with the shroud, the pattern of scars turned into a clear picture. A picture of seven decorated spears, aligned in a row.
"I am the Seventh Spear,"
However, for some, being the captor was an even bigger inconvenience.
Twice already the captive had been rushed to different locations, at least ten times he had to be checked for weaponry — at least five times various weapons had turned up — and now, he had to be checked for spy ware.
This would take far longer than any of the various other searches though, so they decided to play a joke or prank or sorts, on both the poor victim and the innocent captor.
They sent the captive in half naked.
The captor was not amused.
The Imperial Princess of Galiend literally kicked the men out of the room before they could present him. her face was flushed with either anger, embarrassment, or both. Either way, no one wanted to stick around to find out.
"Put some bloody clothes on the man!" she screamed as she looked out the door. "Just what the hell do you take me for?!"
And so they had to dress him in a new, bug-free outfit before sending him back in.
However, the strangest thing was probably that they didn't bring him in with any shackles or chains, nothing to restrain him. They let him walk in still a threat to the Imperial Princess. Which was exactly what she had wanted.
As soon as he entered, her bodyguards and servants were dismissed. Only one stayed back, her most loyal maidservant and lady-in-waiting, a redheaded girl named Maeya. She did little more than sit at the window seat with her nose in the book, however, so he didn't give her much thought.
The Princess stood as he entered. Not to show respect, but instead to intimidate him and get respect for she herself, for she was of tall and regal stature that demanded the respect of everyone, from her allies to her enemies. And more often than not, she got it.
He leaned down slightly to meet her dark eyes. She may have been tall, but he still towered over her by half a foot. Despite this, however, he suddenly felt more intimidated than he had wanted her to feel. It was her eyes, no doubt. Two black pools of oblivion, they were. And sharp enough to make the world's strongest feel like ants in her presence.
He realized then that he had made his first mistake of the day — he underestimated his opponent.
After basking in the smug glory of her first victory, the Princess turned and walked over to the desk. Well, she didn't walk there so much as glide there, with just enough force to show her presence. Even her steps were elegant and regal, it seemed.
The man scanned his surroundings for anything he could use as a weapon — a letter opener, scissors, anything. Nothing came up, however. Once again he found himself cursing himself for underestimating her once again.
Unbeknown to them both, the maidservant at the corner of the room glanced up from her book. She could see his clenched fists and the way he followed her movements, the way a lion watched it's prey. Maeya tensed and bit her lower lip, but she would wait. Those were the Princess' orders, after all.
"I've heard it said," he said evenly as he watched the Princess take her seat. He had decided to buy more time to look around, asses his surroundings and try his luck at finding another weapon. "That the Imperial Princess of Galiend is the most beautiful in all of Galiend," He smirked. "I'm sorely disappointed,"
She was not offended, much to his utter annoyance. "Disappointed in what? In the fact that I am not what people say, or in the fact that your so call 'Good' comrades lied to you?" She emphasized the word Good with mocking and sarcasm.
Unable to retort, he simply gritted his teeth and glared at her. He had expected her to be intimidated. She wasn't.
The Imperial Princess took a sear and crossed her long legs elegantly. "Take a seat, sir," she offered, motioning to the empty chair not far away. "What's your name?"
He stood, nearing her. Maeya glanced at her employer, but the Princess made subtle, dismissive wave with her hand, not enough to be seen by the opponent, but enough to order the maidservant to calm.
"I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours," he opted, keeping his voice even.
She grinned mockingly. "Do you promise? On your honor?" Her voice was filled with mocking. "I do love how you lot try to hold to that 'Code of Honor' crap. It's amusing, if not a little depressing, how you fool yourselves into thinking you believe in such shams,"
"I promise," he said, evenly.
Her grin turned sinister as she revealed a few of her sharp incisors. "On your honor?"
He gritted his teeth, trying unsuccessfully to hide his anger. "On my honor,"
She nodded, and in a mock attempt at courtesy, introduced herself. "My name is Arianna Lucrezia Galienne,"
Grudgingly, he replied, "Caelan Richardson," He advanced, fists clenched, having thought he found the right moment. Maeya stood, but the Princess shot her a pointed look that ordered her to sit back down.
"How uncourteous," she said calmly. "Trying to attack your host?"
"You aren't my host, you're my captor," he corrected. It was his turn to be mocking now. "Tell me where I am,"
"I'm afraid that's classified information," she replied, shrugging her shoulders passively.
"Then I'm afraid I'm going to have you make it unclassified," he replied in as calm a voice as he could manage.
She shrugged. "You can try, I suppose. But you're going to have to do more than make empty threats,"
"Who said I'm making empty threats?" he breathed, closing in. She back up until she hit the surface of the desk. He grinned, coding in on her. They both knew she was cornered, but only he would admit it.
A hand clasped around her throat, not enough to hurt her in anyway, but enough she invoke a good amount of fear in anyone. Anyone but her, maybe.
"Well?"
She shrugged, trying to stare into his eyes. Not an easy task when you're being held up a feet higher than eye level. "You're not going to hurt me,"
He let put a breathe, feeling what little patience he had left for this situation drain. "Give me one reason not to,"
"I can give you two," she grinned. "Firstly, it goes against your 'Code of Honor' to harm a lady,"
"I think a little breach in the rules will be justified in such a situation,"
"Typical," she laughed mockingly. "As I said before, your Code of Honors are nothing but a sham, cast aside the moment they're inconvenient. Put a lady of my court in one of your prisons and she'd be dead by dawn..." She winced, the first amour of emotion other than mocking she had shown that day. "Or... worse,"
"Is that empathy I see, Princess, or a trick of the light?" he mocked.
"Neither," she replied. A lie, but a good one. "Merely stating facts,"
"Well," he said, choosing his words carefully, "Our Codes don't extend to those on the side of Evil,"
She really did laugh at this. "I don't know whether to pity you or mock you,"
He squeezed her throat. She widened his eyes in shock. But while he paid attention to her expression, he didn't notice her free hand grabbing onto the crisp fabric of the new shirt. He didn't notice until she literally stabbed her long fingernails through the cloth and scratched him the way a cat would an antagonizing dog.
Startled, he looked at her, seeing her grin. He tightened his grip, making her choke. She gasped before swinging her leg, that had been resting on the table, up to kick him. The high heels added to the damage, much to her sadistic glee. He staggered backwards from the impact, forced to release her.
She stood as he staggered, regaining her cool composure though the red marks on her neck were more than a little apparent. "I suppose your attitude proves to me how good you really are,"
He lunged at her, but she quickly stepped aside. "Listen to what I have to say, would you?" she sighed. "Don't make me regret not having you brought here bound in chains,"
"What do you have to talk to me about?" he snarled, straightening up to full height.
She looked up at him to see into his eyes. "The Seventh Spear,"
He stared at her dubiously. "What are you talking about?"
The Princess nodded as if she had expected this. She turned to the maidservant, who dutifully went over to her side, holding the thin shroud in her hands. The man, Caelan, looked at her suspiciously. "What're you doing?"
Ignoring him, the Princess turned and removed her coat, revealing the robe beneath it. She removed it halfway, showing a back full of elaborate scars. At first he didn't understand, but when Maeya covered her with the shroud, the pattern of scars turned into a clear picture. A picture of seven decorated spears, aligned in a row.
"I am the Seventh Spear,"
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Comments of all sorts welcomed.
