His Majesty

They were late.

King Ansfrid sat on his throne, peering out the balcony of his castle every few minutes. The neighboring kingdom of Yisal still intact. The king anxiously stroked his aged beard in thought. The land he ruled over, the kingdom of Otomor, was a relatively peaceful regime. However, he feared that those days will come to an end. There was immense tension rising between Karne, the head of the Magistrate and the former leader of the Paladins, Valera. A tension that could at any moment erupt in a devastating war and end the Realm's golden age.

He had done his part in protecting his kingdom from Karne's wrath by cracking down on the use and distribution of the magic crystals within his kingdom. Ansfrid allowed for the commoners to have their homes searched by Karne's men. Many were injured, but he believed it was a price to pay for their safety; better a broken arm or leg than a severed head he thought. After turning a blind eye and desperately trying to ignore the pleas of his subjects, he handed every single crystal over to Karne's search party and gave them a feast and drinks to boot. Normally he wouldn't reward barbarians such as them, but he needed them to put a good word out to Karne, to let him know that the kingdom of Otomor is not a threat.

However, a dark thick fog of distrust and paranoia has erupted within his kingdom since then. Ansfrid, a king who once was bowed at every single corner and carapace, someone who was endeared by men and children alike, now shunned him. His conscious now filled with the glares of the men and women and the fearful gazes of the children haunted him. He had hoped they would understand that he was doing this for them. Had all the years of his benevolence and kindness meant nothing?

Yet, the worst of his fears was yet to come. What he considered to be an ally, turned out to be an enemy. Yisal, a kingdom he had respected and traded with for years, had turned on the Magistrate and sided with Valera. Their king, Radolf, a man near on his deathbed, refused to let Karne's army through their borders and allowed his subjects to keep their crystals. When news reached Ansfrid, he was furious. Did Radolf not care what would happen to Yisal? Surely, he knew how powerful Karne is and what he can do. He could be killed for treason along with the rest of his kingdom! Ansfrid felt his anger swell up more when the local peasants would speak of Radolf in high regard and talk of commoners taking their families over to the Yisal began to slowly arise.

The constant guilt, paranoia, and rage only served to fuel Ansfrid's next actions. He contemplated a plan to cease Yisal and gain the Magistrate's good graces, so that his kingdom may be put under Karne's protection. It felt dishonorable, but it could be the only way to gain back the respect of his people. He would have to break the peace treaty between Otomor and Yisal made centuries ago and force Yisal to be under his rule. It's the only way he can revert Radolf's foolish decision and hand the crystals back to the Magistrate. In a way, he was protecting both his kingdom and theirs.

For the conquest to work, he enlisted not only an army, but the aid of his best warlord and warlock: Anna and her younger brother, Albus. Anna towered over most men, including the king himself, her green dyed hair matching her green hazel eyes complemented the fire in her loyalty for her kingdom. She earned her rank from her clever ambushes and with the aid of magic from her brother, her plans were nearly flawless.

After explaining his desire to take over Yisal and tasking his warlord to conjure a plan of action, her brother, a younger brunette with blue eyes turned to Ansfrid and pointed his staff at him. "I'm sorry my liege, but... should we really be doing this?" he asked, fixing his glasses that were far too wide for him. "I won't say what the people have been saying, but… this definitely won't help them trust you agai-"

"I did not ask for your opinion, Albus." Ansfrid interrupted. "I am ordering Anna to-" he took a deep breath. "… to please do as I say and find a way to infiltrate Yisal. I truly believe this is the best course of action we can take for Otomor."

Albus shook his head and looked to his sibling. "Anna, it's your call. I really don't want to do this, but I'll help in any way I can if you do."

Anna looked down into Ansfrid's eyes. Almost as if she was searching for something. "My lord, if you truly wish for me to take your armies into Yisal's lands then I will and will do so until they are under your rule, but tell me that you are doing this for the sake of our people and not for petty jealousy."

A flick of anger flashed through Ansfrid's features before he calmed himself and kept a determined stance. "I vow on the gods themselves that this is all for the people. You have my word as your king."

Anna continued to stare at Ansfrid, searching for any sign of hesitance. When she saw none, she gently smiled and bowed, signaling her brother to follow her out of the room.

Thus, a plan was made, and they had set off towards Yisal, with only a "We'll have it conquered in an hour, my lord," from Anna. It's been an hour and 15 minutes and not a peep was made from them. He thought he would see an explosion or a fire by now, but the silence was unbearable. Had something happened to his army? Did Radolf somehow know about his ambush? Have Anna and Albus betrayed him and join Radolf's armies?

His thoughts were interrupted by a warm hand wrapping around his. "Dear, I know how you get when you worry like that, please talk to me if you need to." Ansfrid straightened up in his seat and turned to the one woman he could trust. The sun bouncing off her blonde wavy hair made her seem years younger.

"I-I'm sorry, Evelynn. It's just that… those two should be here by now with a report. I am fearing the worst at this point. Even they had doubts about my orders."

His wife merely smiled. "But they went to follow your orders, didn't they? I know the people have been doubting you, but I know that you're doing all this for a righteous cause." She paused, her smile faltering. "It is of course, isn't it?"

Before Ansfrid could answer, they heard an explosion from below their floor accompanied by shouts of panic. "What's going on?!" Evelynn asked her husband, her calm demeanor now shifting to fear.

"Stay here, dear. I will go check with the guards." Ansfrid stood up from his throne and signaled the guards next to them to heed his command and lead him to the source. They nodded and proceeded to lead him down the room, but before they could reach the doors to the throne room, they slammed open. The guards readied their spears, but dropped their stance at the sight of a panting Anna carrying an unconscious Albus. Her armor was dented and the plating was nearly torn off, but what disturbed Ansfrid the most was the look of sheer terror in Anna's battle hardened eyes. An expression he would rather not see in his warlord.

"M-My lord!" Anna finally gasped, nearly dropping her brother on the ground. "The army is- It's gone! Every soldier is dead!"

Evelynn gasped; Ansfrid could only open his mouth in shock before regaining his voice back. "What?! What do you mean they're dead?!" he exclaimed. "Did they somehow know about our plan?! Do we have a spy in our midst Anna?!"

She shook her head. "No, my lord, it was something else. Just please, do not antagonize him at all if possible!"

"Him?! What the hell are you talking abou-"

An explosion sent the doors to the throne room flying, nearly hitting Anna whilst she carried Albus to safety. The guards readied their spears once more, this time with clear intent on butchering the person wreaking havoc.

Among the rubble and smoke, a booming, almost… regal voice rang off. "Bah! What's with all the pointy weapons, meatbags? Is this how you lot greet your king?"

Confused, Ansfrid took a step back. "Who are you and what do you want?!"

The voice laughed, its footsteps sounding metallic. "Oh, like you wouldn't know! But I'll introduce myself anyways since I must be a tolerant king for you meatbags."

The thing walked through the smoke; a smug grin plastered on its small metal head with a fuse growing on top of it. A machine with a molten oven for a stomach. The thing took a royal pose in front of his guards and proclaimed, "Greetings subjects! Your Bomb King has arrived home!"