Tarsuria, Year of Severus, 15, I.R., the 85th day of Fall, Arenfall

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Senator Lucresia stormed out of the tent leaving them speechless. Lord Prestonheim sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. While Stolas went into his small table and prepared tea. His ward knew that it was going to be a long night for everyone involved. Prince Arterius loomed over the senator's words, clicking his tongue in frustration at the feeble senator's remarks. 

"Is he serious?!" He threw his staff on the ground. "He's going to kill them as scapegoats for my gamble?!"

"Yes, and no." Lord Prestonheim sighed. "Senator Lucresia is a prideful man. He takes pride at the Arterian Knights and takes pride at his unrivalled mind. You just overstepped on both."

"W-what do you mean, godfather?" Prince Arterius scratched his head.

Lord Prestonheim smiled, "Well, you managed to go beyond his expectation. Using the discoveries, you have with the aetherium, he knew very well how this would change the tide of battle. Somehow, I believe, he thinks that his tactical prowess will be overshadowed by your weapons and therefore, gain you more influence. Secondly, he takes pride of the Arterian knights that he helped mold and made throughout the years. Just think of how much big of a slap it is for him to them fail and see slaves survive the task?" He massaged the bridge of his nose once again.

Prince Arterius knew that his godfather's smile was filled with worry. A man of his caliber felt guilty that he has to choose between his honor and his loyalty towards the Principalia. He knew that his gamble might've hurt his godfather more than what he thought. But it was too late to turn back now. The only thing he needed to focus on is how to get out of this situation.

"A new age has come upon us, Arterius." Lord Prestonheim said. "The missing moon, our forefathers had written about has now came out of the sky. You, my dear prince will also lead us to this new age. Everything was fated to come into place, regardless of what will happen next, I want you to know that you cannot turn back now. Embrace your destiny and the weight that you will drag along with your fate." He approached Prince Arterius and patted his shoulder.

"T-two moons?" Prince Arterius never noticed that while he was out in the open. This wasn't the time to feel curious. He reminded himself. He scratched his head and focused on the dilemma that the old, sly senator presented. "What of them? Where are they?" He asked his godfather for the freed slaves.

"They're being held in a cell at the middle of the camp." Lord Prestonheim answered sadly.

"Were there anymore survivors? I heard Senator Lucresia ranted on some more." He asked.

Lord Prestonheim nodded his head. "Yes, Tristam and two of the Orkamuus have also survived." He massaged the bridge of his nose.  "They are well cared for in the infirmary."

"That's good." Prince Arterius was still unsettled by his godfather's answer. "If they were put on quarantine surely the rest should've been as well, right?" 

"Senator Lucresia made sure the injured ones were cared for." Lord Prestonheim answered.

"That's not our protocol!" Prince Arterius raised his voice. "You told me we have to be sure about them! Besides, aren't the freed slaves hurt as well?!" 

His godfather nodded, "They're far from being unscathed and would've needed the same treatment as the rest. But, Senator Lucresia was adamant with his goal. The Orkamuus needed to survive because he owed them his life, and as for Tristam, well, he is part of the Arterian knights. He's supposed to be the hero."

"Why are you letting this happen?!" Prince Arterius frustratingly punched his bed. "You can command your men to withdraw the order!"

"As much as I would've wanted it," Lord Prestonheim sighed. "With all of the senators agreeing to him, I am nothing worth of my opinion." 

Prince Arterius clicked his tongue and grabbed the cane lying on the ground. "I am going to see them now!" 

Lord Prestonheim blocked his way, "It is not sa—"

"I am tired of this safety thing!" He exclaimed. "I am sorry, godfather, but as your prince, I order you to get out of my way!"  He glared at Lord Prestonheim straight in the eyes. 

Lord Prestonheim had no choice but to move out of his way. Prince Arterius walked out of his tent. His ward followed him and tried to reason with him, but he was far too focused to listen to his wiles. He ordered Stolas to keep silent and escort him to where Adaloun and the others were quarantined. 

The freed slaves were placed inside a make-shift prison. Logs of timber were placed around them and reinforced with earth magic to create a solid, stone-like prison. The roof was made of stone, with spikes protruding in the interior. The deadly prison was designed to not let anyone escape. The structure was hard to miss from the distance. It towered most of the tents, and the stone and wood design were truly hard to miss. 

Knights also roamed around the structure; they were heavily clad than usual. Their armor had the plated patterns of Lucresia's guards. Prince Arterius approached the massive structure but was instantly halted by the roaming guards. 

The knight holding a spear blocked his way and pointed the spear at him. "Halt! You are not allowed to come close—" 

Prince Arterius, who was not in the mood for talk, simply went past the knight. However, the stubborn knight tried to push him away. He was knocked back a few steps back before his godfather subdued the knight by stepping on his spear and putting a dagger on the clueless knight's neck.

"I would be very careful where you point the spear, knight." His godfather was clearly irked with the knight's action. "I swear, I could've gutted you by now, if it weren't for him!" He whispered under the knight's helmet.

"No need for violence!" Prince Arterius quickly reacted. "We have already a lot for the past few weeks." He passed through the knights, this time with no reprimands. 

In between the tight spaces of the make-shift cell, Prince Arterius saw the freed slaves bound in heavy chains by their ankles and slave collars were once again wrapped around their necks. He smashed his cane against the wood and blasted it to pieces.

His ruckus didn't go unnoticed. From the small gaps of the prison, he saw the prisoners rose up and walked towards him. Prince Arterius took a deep breath as he tried to compose himself.

"Is everyone alright, there?" He said in his gentle voice.

"We're all alive," Adaloun answered with a hint of frustration and sarcasm in his voice. "Alive and well…and chained, I guess it's a standard welcoming procedure."

Prince Arterius clicked his tongue. This wasn't supposed the type of welcoming they should've gotten from them, after all, they were already free citizens.

"I apologize for this…" He sighed. "It's just a standard procedure. We need to make sure that whatever impurities there were down there not stuck on any of you." 

"Is this where the chains and collar come in?" Adaloun asked. "

"Yes." Prince Arterius lied. 

Adaloun nodded, "Hmmm… I see. Does the standard procedure also state that we are to be executed tomorrow? I thought I heard these knights, and a certain man of stature garbled those things earlier."

Prince Arterius was lost for words. The prisoners already know the fate that awaits them, and it's eating him inside knowing that they must pay for his own incompetence.

"Well…" Prince Arterius fumbled for words

"My Prince, I trust that there is a way out of this?" The human prisoner asked.

Prince Arterius remained silent and simply walked away from the prisoners. His heart ached at the thought of them falling for his own sake. It wasn't the vision he wanted of his campaign. He had already put a lot of lives at death's cradle and these innocent lives weren't one of them.

He stormed to the senators' tent along with his godfather, not minding his aching leg. He caught up with the senators huddling, or perhaps scheming who knows? But he saw them conversing with each other around a small circle with his former mentor, 305-M in the mix.

"What are you doing here?!" Senator Ordus stood up and pointed at him.

"Well, I'm a prince! I supposed I am allowed to budge in on this...meeting you have?" He said confidently.

The senate began to buzz. The eldest prince had suddenly barged to a somewhat secretive meeting.

"Seriously, if this was a secretive meeting…" He smirked. "I must say you haven't planned it very well!"

Senator Lucresia stood up from the sea of faces. "No, this is no secret meeting!" He answered. "What is your goal for coming here? Are you here to tell us that you will kill those bastards who disrespected our knights?"

"No, I came here to tell each and everyone of you, that I am setting them free."

The buzzing whispers turned into shouts of outrage, just the way he wanted them to feel.