4

  On his knees, tiny shards in his legs, wounds on his face and a piercing ringing in his ears. He slowly got up. He began walking towards Elira, who was out cold. The ringing, slowly went away. He shook her. She woke up.

  Kaelith was telling her something; all she could hear were loud murmurs. Those murmurs turned into words, “are you okay? There is a shard in your thigh.” She looked at the shard, and didn’t say anything.

  Meanwhile Kaelith’s father got up, a shard in his left arm. He saw the kids and walked up to them.

  “You two alright?” “I am fine, but she has a shard in her thigh.” Kaelith’s father looked at it and said, “leave it in.” Kaelith nodded and said, “you have a huge one in your bicep.” “This doesn’t bother me. Keep her safe. I will be right back.” And he ran out of the venue.

  People slowly started getting up. The king stood up and said, “what the hell just happened?!”

  The head of the ‘SWS’, who was at the party ran to the balcony. He saw the sight and said to himself, “I’ll be damned.”

  He came back with a distressed face. Just then the admiral was back with the Velkanor map. The head of the ‘SWS’ announced, “Molraeth, has erupted.” The king asked, “ that dormant volcano exploded? That’s all? But I must say, that was a loud bang.”

  “You don’t understand, Molraeth just erupted. When a dormant volcano explodes, it never ends well. Molraeth’s diameter is extremely wide...” He took a pause and said, “history shall remember this day, as ‘the fall of Syntar’. ”“Don’t scare everyone over nothing, you insolent fool!” The king snapped back. “Syntar is immortal!”

  “No my lord, Syntar’s greatest weakness was Molraeth at its center. We tried everything to control the threat. But a mere human cannot defy nature. We have no choice but to evacuate.” The king lost for words, ran with the queen out of the venue. The prince followed them.

  “How long have we got?” The admiral asked. “Seventeen hours if our luck is good. Otherwise eight hours.” “Are you certain?” “Unless my eyes were playing tricks on me, I am certain.”

  A moment of silence filled the room.

  Then the crowd went into chaos. Kaelith’s father came running up to them and said, “let’s get out of here.” “My father….where is he?” Elira got up slowly she looked around, limping on her leg with the shard still in, deep.

  They looked through the mess to see the town-master on the ground; a shard in his neck. Looking at Elira he whispered, “your mother is not with us, now I am going to see her. Sorry for bringing you into the world just to see your parents die. The admiral, is Syntar’s last hope.” And died. “Father!!” Elira cried; as Kaelith pulled her away.

  Kaelith carried her on his back and they ran. “Where are we going?” Kaelith asked. “We are off to Velkanor Central.” “Why? We’re taking a train back to Sha’vel?” “Yes, and the port is there so we can evacuate this island.”

  They went to the palace stable. Not one horse was there. All horses were out of control; running in the grazing field behind the stable.

  “Damn it!” The admiral cried. “We have no choice but to go there on foot. Can you continue carrying the girl?” “Yes, don’t worry about me.”

  A while later, they arrived at ‘Velkanor Central Railway Station’ Elira fell unconscious once again, on Kaelith’s back; on the way there.

  They boarded a train and were off. Elira was still unconscious. Kaelith was beginning to get worried. “Father, is she okay?” “Let me see.” He checked for a pulse. The pulse was faint. “She is holding onto dear life son. We have to move quick.”

  The people of Syntar, are yet to know the caliber of the situation, their homeland, is in.

  Five hours later, they got off at Thaldrine station.

  “You want me to carry her?” “No, I can take care of her. You have mother to take care of.” Kaelith’s father took a pause and said, “right, thank you for reminding me.”

  By now the citizens of Velkanor, have realized the danger. But the rest of Syntar.…not so much.

  His father dashed towards the exit; leaving Kaelith behind. “Syntarian soldiers are strong. A glass in his bicep, and yet he shows such unbelievable strength.” Kaelith said to himself. “I want to be like that one day.”

  Kaelith’s father reached home first and knocked the door, “Mari?n!” No answer, he knocked again and no answer. He broke down the door and entered. “Mari?n!”

  She came walking, saying, “What the fuck happened, why are you yelling? You ruined my sleep.” And she saw his left arm. The admiral just hugged her, “thank god you’re alright. We have to leave.” “To where?” “To the port!”

  The admiral began packing a bag; as she just sat on the table.

  Just then Kaelith came carrying Elira. “Oh son, where were you?” His mother asked.

  She saw their condition. Kaelith with wounds on his face; on his back, Elira who was unconscious.

  She sat up and began walking. “Where are you going?” The admiral asked. She didn’t say anything and kept walking.

  She came back with a first-aid kit. “Come with me.” She ordered Kaelith.“Put her on the bed.” She checked Elira and said, “she is just mentally exhausted. She should be fine. And you, show me that face.” She cleaned and patched Kaelith up.

  “Let’s go back.” His mother said.

  “Kal, get over here. We are taking out the shard.” She pulled out the shard, pressed the wound and added sutures to close up the wound.

  In no time, she was done. “That was fast.” “Your wife was a surgeon in the civil war.”

  Meanwhile, Kaelith ate something he found in the kitchen.

  The admiral got his coat and saber. “Let’s leave.” He ordered.

  Just as they stepped out, everybody got a burning sensation in their throat. The smoke had now spread all across Syntar. The sky now, had a deep Orange tint. They went back in and wore gas masks.

  “Do not drop the girl till we reach Sha’vel port. You can run right darling?” “Yes, I can.” Mari?n replied. And all ran to towards the port.

  On the way a man stopped them. Dressed up in shabby clothes; looked like a beggar. He pointed a rusted sword and ordered in a tone full of fear, “give me all your stuff!” The admiral stopped and said, “come to the port we can help you…” “I said give me all your stuff! I don’t know what happened but the sky turned orange.”

  This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

  “Alright, I will put all our stuff on the ground.” The admiral put the stuff down slowly, raised his hands and stood back. “Give me your mask!” And the admiral obliged. He took off the mask and put it with the pile of items; his throat burned.

  “Father, why are you doing this?” “Wait, son, just wait.” Just as the man began running with the items, the admiral lunged at the man and tied him up with some rope he had in his coat. And took his sword.

  “Please! I have wife and children. I need that stuff. We can’t afford anything.” The admiral put the sword close to him and said, “come to Sha’vel port with them if you plan to escape.”

  And walked away.

  They continued their journey to Sha’vel port. The smoke was now on the ground like thick fog. Nothing was visible.

  Fifteen minutes passed, “I can’t run anymore.” Kaelith said, exhausted. “Just a little longer.” His father replied.

  Just then, despite the smoke blinding them, they reached the port. “Thavron!” The admiral yelled. Thavron came running and said, “what is it admiral?” “Prepare ‘The Ashreign’, and call up the crew. We have to leave before the situation gets worse.”

  “Kaelith, take the your mother into the harbour master’s office. Away from these fumes.” “The harbour master’s office is locked. He was at the party.” Thavron interrupted. “Well, break the door! We need the Stratograph in there.” “Kaelith, give Elira to Thavron. Send a message to every port in Syntar.” The admiral ordered.

  “What do I do with the girl?” Thavron asked. “Put her on one of the beds in the Ashreign.” “Might take a while, I am alone right now.” “No, you are not…lets get the ship out for voyage.”

  They went to the boathouse in a hurry and hoisted the anchor. The doors were opened, the Ashreign was loaded with sacks of Voltherium and all other voyage essentials.

  Meanwhile, Kaelith took his mother and went towards the office. He picked the lock with small broken pieces of metal, lying on the floor nearby.

  He went to the Stratograph and sent a message. All the ports in Syntar received the message and…Syntar now knew, its situation.

  Bells rung. The whole of Syntar was dancing at the edge of life and death. It was almost too late, until the inhabitants realized. All ran to the port nearest to them.

  The crew arrived. They began taking out ships for the residents to board.

  “Long time it has been eh boy? Since we sailed together?” Thavron asked.“Sure has.” The admiral replied. “Now where are we off to?” Set course to every port and see if everybody is getting on the ships.” “So around the island? Got it.” “Is everybody here?” “You mean the crew? Yes. Everyone is here.”

  They began circling around the island.

  Halfway in the journey, at Burgon port, they saw the royal family. With five humongous sacks. Crew were loading the them. The admiral saw this and said, “Thavron, get the stairs down, I want to have a word with them.” Thavron nodded and yelled, “get the stairs down boys! Admiral’s orders!”

  The stairs were let down and the admiral walked onto the other ship. And asked the ship’s captain, “what are you doing?” “We are loading his majesty’s items, sir.” “Get rid of the items and fit more people in. Valuable space is getting wasted.”

  Hearing this the king yelled, “who the hell do you think you are?” “That is royal treasure. You we can’t leave it here.” “Nobody brought items as much as you. Got it?” “I am the king. I am above the law. Laws meant for you don’t apply to me!”

  “No that wasn’t a law. It is common sense, to save your people that your treasure.” The admiral replied coldly.“You calling me dumb, you bastard?! You son of a whore… ”

  The admiral drew his saber and pointed it at the king’s neck before he could finish. In a furious, yet cold tone, “if you plan to survive, you play by my rules, Magnor.” The king shocked, yelled, “how dare you, call me by my name?!”

  “Fine load everything in.” “Yes sir.” The captain replied. “That’s what I thought.” The king said arrogantly.

  Kaelith heard this commotion; too exhausted to stand up and look. “So this is how father is at work.” “Yeah, your father is the most ruthless admiral to guard these waters. This is nothing. You are yet to see his full caliber.”

  Meanwhile, the admiral walked away with the captain telling him something; as the crew were loading the sacks.

  The king’s cargo was fully loaded on the ship. “If it wasn’t for the royal vessel being repaired, I wouldn’t be boarding this crap.” The king said to himself. Two crew mates came and checked the luggage. “Oh it’s nothing but jewels and artifacts. Move it somewhere safe. I don’t want people stealing my treasure.”

  The men separated a portion of the gems and began to throw the rest into the ocean. And they let more people in to fill the place.

  The king lost for words yelled, “what the fuck are you two low lives doing? That was worth more than your sorry ass!” The captain walked up to them and asked, “What is the problem, my lord?” “Jackass, your twats are dumping my precious treasure into the ocean!”

  “Calm down sir, admiral orders.” “Admiral orders? He let the cargo be loaded after I showed him, a piece of me!” “He walked with me remember? He ordered me to do this. And if you misbehaved he ordered me to throw you into the ocean.”

  The two crew mates came back and dragged the king. “Get your filthy hands off me! I am your king you wretched, motherfuckers!” The king was dragged to the opposite edge.

  “Wait, you can’t be serious! I am sorry, please don’t hurt me!” Without saying a word they threw him into the ocean.

  “Please stop! My husband can’t swim!” The queen cried. “Sir…please save my father.” The prince requested the captain; in tears. “Son, your father has done many bad things. You have to let him go.” The captain replied, calmly.

  All residents were on the ships…except the army. “Sir, the army commander hasn’t boarded the ship.” Another person came up and said, “sir, we received a message, from the Aurelspire hall.”

  And handed the admiral a piece of paper. The admiral read the message; took a deep breath. “Get all ships moving, we are leaving. It’s already pretty bad.” “Yes sir.”

  All ships were sent the message to follow the Ashreign.

  All ships turned their rudders and drove full speed away from the island.

  Meanwhile all soldiers were wearing gas masks; and were at the back of Aurelspire hall. The commander said, “our time has come. The nation we risk our lives for is about to fall any second. As soldiers, we shall fall with it!” cheers came through the crowd.

  All took of their masks and breathed in the toxic air.

  The soldiers stood like statues. They were ready to guard the land even in the after life.

  The sight was scary. Warriors who never back down.

  The volcano erupted once again. Now, even louder and the lava spread with greater distances. Despite a far distance from the island, the lava fell in the ocean, almost hitting one of the ships.

  The citizens saw their homeland burn that day…and a few of their loved ones who couldn't make it.

  Don’t take anything for granted; for which tomorrow everything might be taken from you. Nature isn’t kind. It never was. It does what it likes, and you might benefit, or burden from it.

  “Where are we off to, admiral?” “To the place where we export most of our resources.” “We export to a lot of places in mainland, where exactly?” “Up Northeast.” “Got it.” “Call me Kal, uncle Thavron.” “Still that little boy I found, eh? As you wish ‘Kal’. Setting course, to Europe!”

  “On my way here, I saw a beggar. I asked him to come here. He didn’t show up.” “Let it go Kal. We can’t save everybody. You almost saved the whole population alone. Be happy at your victory and not sad about the mistakes you made prior. From now onwards you aren’t the Admiral. You are The King.” “What? I am not of royal blood. And we haven’t even said anything to the people onboard.” “Everybody accept you as king since the stunt you pulled earlier. Though they don’t say anything. Want to see?”

  And Thavron dragged Kal and ordered the lieutenant, “get me one of the microphones. Admiral orders.” “Yes sir.”

  The microphone was placed in-front of them and Thavron said, “dear citizens of Syntar!” Everyone went silent. “Syntar lost its king. Now we need one. So does anybody object to the admiral becoming king?” Nobody said anything. “I will take that as a yes.”

  The prince’s mouth was covered up by the queen as he wanted to say something.

  The queen had no choice but to accept that she was nothing, but a mere commoner now.

  The fleet sailed into the dark abyss.

  “His nation fell that day.

  An eruption took it all. Syntar was never the island;

  It was the people. Heaven kicked him out;

  He chose hell. The intoxicating feeling — he gave in, destroyed.

  Hell welcomed him with open arms.

  For that, he will pay. In blood.”

  TO BE CONTINUED…

  Welcome to hell…