Chapter 1 – One
Heart, One Family
Two kingdoms loyal to Genus, a
Pillar of Cognizance, are crowning their new kings. These kingdoms are called Fidelis
and Benevolus, which were both founded by two brothers who had different ideas
of how justice should be conducted. Aziel is one of these new kings from the
kingdom of Fidelis and is about to be crowned in a ceremony.
“Aziel, do you accept this crown
and all its burdens upon your shoulders?” the head bishop of the kingdom says.
“I do,” Aziel responds.
“Then take the Flame Cross of Cognizance
and be blessed by its embers.”
Little flames come out from a staff
with a fiery cross on it. These flames dance around Aziel and singe parts of
his face and hair as they bless him with their energy.
“Genus is the Pillar of Cognizance that
holds up the others. Without it, Gloria would not have kings or subjects, and Ecclesia
would not have its laity or clergy. Family is the root of all and as the new root,
you will lead not only our family, not only our kingdom but the world to Heaven.
Take up your spear that you will lead your flock with Tool of God, King of
Fidelis, and son of mine.”
The crowd prays while choirs sing
for Aziel as he lifts his spear skyward. Meanwhile, Gabriel from the kingdom of
Benevolus is christened by embers in much the same way by his father.
“Genus is the Pillar of Cognizance
that holds up the others. Without it, Gloria would be forced to bend to the will
of the people, and the Church would be in shambles. Without family, there can
be no order, peace, and love. Family is the Pillar of Cognizance that bears the
heaviest weight. Take up this weight and make your people proud, crush your
enemies, and lead us all to Heaven!”
Gabriel’s crowd cheers and chants
war psalms. Both kings are told to visit the archbishop to receive their final
blessing that will help them be better kings. The two go together, as is
tradition, in the same carriage together with members of the royal guard and
family traveling with them.
Inside the carriage, Gabriel asks, “How
did the ceremony go?”
“It was wonderful. What about
yours?”
“Exhilarating, thrilling,
invigorating. What other adjectives should I use to describe it? We’re kings
now, Aziel. Shouldn’t you be more excited? Oh, wait that’s right. Your kingdom celebrates
crownings differently than mine.”
“We just act more reverently than
yours is all.”
“Giving a lot of energy in our
ceremonies show greater reverence in our opinion. We should be putting our all
into our service for God and family, so why wouldn’t we show it in every aspect
of our lives including our ceremonies?”
“I’m only saying that we prefer it
to be quieter and subtler. We let the silence of God speak to us. Do you put
your all into your sleep as well?”
“If we could, we would. Just look
at our weapons such as this mace that I wield. It can both stab and crush. It’s
a tool for all occasions.”
“That’s true, but it can’t be the
best in all occasions. This spear can get in the eye holes of armor and the
gaps in it. If not, it can go right through it because of how strong it is and
I am.”
“Whatever you say. A jack of all trades
is typically better in all situations than a person who’s only best in one. How’s
my uncle doing?”
“He’s doing good. He’s going to be
resigning himself to a life of daily mass, penances, and teaching. What about
your father? How’s he doing?”
“Great as always. Still training
the new soldiers and keeping the people below him in line. In our system, the
old king still has the power to make changes just in case we stray from the righteous
path.”
Aziel and Gabriel talk about the
way their kingdoms operate while also talking about current events and the
state of their family and friends. By the time they reach their destination in the
kingdom of Gratia, which is one of the kingdoms allied with Ecclesia and the
place where they will be blessed by the archbishop. The drivers and guards
thank God that the two cousins’ rambling has stopped.
“That’s our boys,” Gabriel’s father
says with a laugh.
Aziel’s father agrees then says, “We
were like that too when we were their age.”
“Speaking about that, do you want
to duel when this is done?”
“No, you know I don’t like dueling.
It divides our kingdoms, our families further apart.”
“How so?”
“Whoever wins gets bragging rights
that one kingdom will hold over the other as if one is better than the other
because of it. This will lead to conflict or at least an evening of the score,
but you know that the kingdoms are not content with having the score evened.
You remember all the fights we had until our fathers had to settle the score
for good through a battle of their own that ended in a drawn.”
“Ah, it’s nothing but a friendly
competition between family. Let the sore losers kick dirt and hold their
grudges. We’ll deal with them if they cause trouble, so why don’t we duel? I’ve
gotten better since our last duel. You won’t win this time.”
“I’ll consider the duel. Ask me
later.”
“You always say that when I ask you
to duel or even play cards with me. Fine, but this time, I’ll find you after the
blessing and keep pestering you about this until you say yes.”
Aziel’s father is smart enough not
to continue the argument and instead walks away. Everyone gathers to see Aziel
and Gabriel be blessed by the archbishop. The archbishop is followed by his
cardinals who hold up his robes so they do not touch the floor. Embers seem to
dance around the man as if the graces within him cannot be contained in his
soul with the staff that he’s carrying floats alongside him as if carried by
his guardian angel. These flames then manifest as arms of black flame where his
arms used to be. Before the two kings can be blessed, someone screams as a
fight breaks out seemingly between those of the kingdoms of Genus and Ecclesia.
Aziel, Gabriel, and even the
archbishop join in the fight. To end it quickly, the archbishop uses the flames
from his arms along with his staff to target the aggressors and incapacitate them.
Everyone else touched by the flames is unharmed except for the sinful who get
burned a bit. In awe of his power, the two new kings ask the archbishop how he
used his flames as if they were both children.
“I trust in God to use the flames.
Do you really think an armless sinner like me can use this amazing power on my
own?” the archbishop explains.
Once the bodies are taken away and
the injured sent to the doctors, the ceremony resumes while the investigators
look into why this happened.
“I bless you in name of God. The
one who lights the flame of our conscious. The one who makes our darkness bright. The
one who is truth and goodness itself. Together, you two bear the crowns of your
kingdoms. Go, and glorify God through your actions. May He grant you the graces
necessary for your noble duty.”
The kings are blessed by the Flame
of Cognizance as their sense of good and evil and wisdom are enhanced by it.
They then immediately go to the investigators to find out why there was a fight.
One of the investigators looks at
the others before saying to the kings, “We think that this fight was started by
members of the Benevolus kingdom, and it appears that the royalty of Benevolus
was instrumental in this.”
“What?! That’s impossible! My
father is very thorough in cutting out those who are disloyal to God, family,
and state,” Gabriel says.
“This is just what we can see from
the evidence we have so far. The assailants have been identified as high class
members of your kingdom by their peers and your father. A deeper investigation
will reveal more, but as of right now, the royalty of your kingdom is suspect.”
Gabriel takes Aziel aside then
says, “We have to clear my kingdom’s name from this.”
“Of course we will. We need to know
who the assailants were by getting the information from the investigators.”
“They have to give us the
information. We’re kings after all.”
“But your royalty is suspect in
this crime. I should be the one to retrieve the information from them.”
“You may become suspect in their
eyes because you’re my cousin trying to help me out. Besides, kings aren’t
meant to get involved in investigations like this and take it into their own
hands.”
“Who says that we need to play by
their rules?”
“Are you saying what I think you’re
saying?”
“Yes. As kings, we have a duty to
clean up messes like this. The same witnesses the investigators talked to should
give us the same information.”
Aziel’s assumption is proved right
when the kings question the witnesses and Gabriel’s father.
After giving them the information,
Gabriel’s father says, “I don’t like this one bit, boys. This feels like a
setup to ruin our reputation.
“That’s what I think too, father,”
Gabriel says.
“You too should conduct your own investigation
if you feel it necessary.”
“Where should we start?” Aziel asks,
“The assailants don’t seem to have any connecting factors and everyone we
talked to were shocked by their actions.”
“I do know that they were close
friends and met at a bar every Sunday. I suggest going to that.”
Aziel and Gabriel decide to do as
Gabriel’s father says, and visit the bar where the assailants frequented that’s
located in Benevolus. By the time they reach the bar, a shadowy force has
already made its move to hide their actions. The kings draw the attention of
everyone in the bar who whisper to themselves while others get their attention.
Two people within the crowd then attempt to stab the kings but their
assassination attempt was seen through as the kings parry the blades and stab
the assassins with their own blades.
“My father didn’t raise a naïve boy,”
Aziel says.
“Did you really think that my father
didn’t teach me how to see through distractions?” Gabriel says before a fight
breaks out in the bar.
The kings fight off everyone in the
bar until there is no one left in it. Both their royal robes and the walls are
splattered with blood. Those who witnessed the fighting cheer for the kings before
guards finally come by to get rid of the bodies.
“That was just like the group training
we did together,” Gabriel says.
“Yes, but with more blood. This is
the first time I took a life,” Aziel somberly admits.
“Your first time? Your father didn’t
train you to kill?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“My father did. We went out raiding
dens of criminals. It wasn’t to get used to killing because every lost soul is a tragedy.
It was just so I wouldn’t be afraid to kill if I had to.”
“It was wise for him to train you
that way. Let’s search the bar to see if we can find out why these people
attacked us.”
Gabriel and Aziel look through the
rooms of the bar and find hidden rooms. These rooms contain plans and weapons
along with symbols that belong to Fidelis.
“Aziel, what is the meaning of
this?” Gabriel says with a tone that suggests he’s ready to fight him.
“I don’t know. I have no clue what
this is about,” Aziel says.
“From what I’m seeing it looks like
these people were from your kingdom trying to frame mine so that ours could be
put to shame while yours is glorified.”
“Why would they try to kill me
then?”
“It looks like these were defectors
who want to drive a wedge between the two brother kingdoms. They’re loyal to
their idea of what Fidelis should be rather than what it is.”
“So what does this have to do with me?”
“You are your father should’ve been
on top of this.”
“Like how your father should’ve
been on top of your royalty?”
“Don’t tempt me to fight you. I’m
not in the mood for sarcasm.”
“Then I’ll let you know that these weapons
aren’t from my kingdom.”
“How do you know?”
“Because our weapons are crafted
better. Like I said before, we focus on specialties. Our blades are sharper and
our hammers are blunter to fill their specific roles while these weapons are
oddly basic in comparison. These knockoff katanas and maces would’ve been scrapped
and reused to make something else. We are very stingy in our craftsmanship.”
“What else can you tell from it?”
“I can tell…huh. It looks like it
was made in Gloria.”
“Gloria? Why would the kingdom of
kings and royalty be involved in this?”
“Maybe they aren’t as a whole or
maybe their supplies were just stolen from. Let’s look around a bit more.”
Shifting through the documents
more, Aziel finds notes by some of the residents detailing their lack of
control in their actions and thoughts along with something about a flame.
He shows these notes to Gabriel who
determines that, “These are the ravings of madmen.”
“But it could be something more. Do
you remember the golden flame?”
“That heretical flame created by
that self-proclaimed goddess so many decades ago?”
“Yes.”
“No sinner has been able to create
anything like it. Do you think that this is the flame that these people are
talking about?”
“It would explain why our own would
turn on us so suddenly and without a good explanation. This along with the
weapons from Gloria suggests that the true culprit lies within there.”
“But where in Gloria and which
kingdom that’s associated with it? Perhaps these weapons are just a red
herring.”
“Perhaps but we have to try.”
“Sure. Let’s see how these weapons got
here. I may not pay attention to all news in the trade business, but I am sure
that we supply our own weapons and don’t bring in any foreign made ones.”
Questioning everyone around the bar
reveals that the weapons came in by way of fancy looking carts. Among the carts
of alcohol were the crates of weapons and guards who paid people to be silent
or made them disappear. The kings try to interview a witness who is said to
know more about the mysterious weapon traders, but this person tries running
from them in fear. Thanks to his knowledge of the city, Gabriel is able to
catch up to the witness and capture them for their investigation.
“Why did you run?” Gabriel asks with
his hands on the witness’ shirt.
“I was afraid that you would kill
me! There were so many times that I thought I was seen when I was spying on
those weird people going in and out of the bar. I thought maybe this was the
time that they finally decided to punish me for my snooping.”
“Tell us what you saw,” Aziel says
as finally catches up.
“I saw many things! Heard many
others as well. Men with golden black flames burning in their eyes. Talk of war,
power, and manipulation.”
“Elaborate for us.”
“I saw…I saw…I see the death of two
kings.” Before they can react, several people surround Aziel and Gabriel and restrain
them. “You saw through our first trap, but not this one. It appears that neither
of you is as bright as you seem.”
“Why are you doing this?! I demand
an explanation!” Aziel says.
There’s a spark within Aziel’s eyes
that the witness’ soul registers, but his own mind doesn’t.
This spark makes the witness spill
the truth and say, “We were trying to give our home in Gloria more reasons to
get the luxuries you enjoy so much. Family is everything and Genus profits and
takes advantage of that more than anyone and hogs. Why give more money to kings
and priests when you can give it to your mom and dad? It’s not like the other
kingdoms are comprised of families or care about their own like you do, right?”
“But why us?”
“Because there’s already a rivalry
in your kingdoms or did you forget that both kingdoms used to be one? It’s very
easy to comprise a story that two kingdoms who have a rivalry between them became
violent towards one another. I don’t know why I told you all this. Maybe you
are graced by God, which is good. You’ll go straight to Heaven.”
“You won’t get away with this!”
Gabriel says with a fiery passion that shows in his eyes.
This passion actually scares away
two of their assailants, but that doesn’t stop them from being killed. Their
bodies are taken to the authorities and false witnesses accuse them of a conspiracy
to divide the kingdoms. Their killers say they are dead is because the killers accuse the kings of attacking them first for being witnesses
to their so-called crime. Before any more can be said, flames begin to dance
around the bodies of the dead kings before they begin to rise. A red fire burns
within Gabriel’s eyes while a golden fire burns within Aziel’s eyes as the
kings are resurrected. The crowds gathered around them watch in amazement while
their killers try to hold their ground as some of them unwillingly stay as fear
has grounded their feet.
Frightened by this sight, the
conspirators use the power of the golden black flame to take control of several
people to help them while others heed their call for help.
“Be careful not to kill the
possessed ones, Gabriel,” Aziel says.
“You worry about them then. I’m
going to smash these liars to pieces!” Gabriel says as he charges forward.
Gabriel stabs and smashes everyone
he chooses to fight. The flames within him tell him the sins of all he focuses
on. He is also granted knowledge of which are sinning intentionally and which
are not in control of themselves. His strength is also increased by his flame
as he effortlessly separates his enemies’ limbs from their bodies while his
mace also burns them at the same time. Meanwhile, the flame within Aziel shows
him the sins and virtues of those he focuses on. Aziel’s voice allows him to
command people to stop or at least freeze like a strong temptation from a
demon. At the end of the fight, the crowd cheers for them.
The kings then report back to their
fathers and the archbishop what happened and they believe every single word of
theirs because of the flame that has ignited within them, however, their
fathers are a bit upset at the fact that they died even though they’re alive
again. Both kingdoms of Fidelis and Benevolus conduct an investigation sanctioned
by Ecclesia into Gloria to not only find further culprits and conspirators but
to also start a dialogue with them to fix the problems that started this mess
to begin with. Aziel and Gabriel are further blessed by the archbishop and give
a speech to the crowd after the mass.
Aziel says to the crowd, “Friends
and family. Let us come together as one people, one Church under God, and not
cause divisions between each other. We are all sons and daughters of the same
God, so let us treat each other that way.”
“We will only get to Heaven if we
work together. We are each other’s keeper. This is our trial by fire. We stand
together, help each other when we fall, and crush our enemies when they oppose
us. Together, we will move past the sins of yesterday and into the glory of
tomorrow.”
Their short speeches get the crowd
cheering. As of right now, the kingdoms have never been closer to one another,
and yet, they are still not the singular kingdom they once were. Still, both Aziel
and Gabriel vow to work together and use the power of their flames for the
glory of God and good of their people and not just their families.
