AFKverse Pt 1

“I pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss the bride,” the minister intoned, his proclamation echoing throughout the halls of the Resonating Crystal.

Killa lifted the veil off his bride’s face and kissed her deeply, only parting in order to gaze upon his gorgeous wife. “You truly make me the happiest man in the kingdom my dear Belinda,” he whispered.

His wife smiled gently, placing a gloved hand on Killa's face. She opened her mouth to reply, only to cough up blood instead as her expression became mortified. Dread filled Killa as she pulled away from him and the voices of those around him rose into a horrified unintelligible murmur. Suddenly, Belinda looked back to him with blood covering the bottom half of her face and the front of her dress and her face morphed to one of anger. “This is your fault,” she accused through another coughing fit and before Killa could ask for an explanation she suddenly seized back and her body became engulfed in flames. Her tortured screams filled his ears as he screamed in horror.

Killa awoke with his hands outreached grasping at air as the remnant of an involuntary scream of his wife’s name echoed throughout the otherwise quiet night. His most trusted guard was at his side immediately, concern etched across his face and a hand on the hilt of his sword.

“My lord—” he began, but Killa cut him off.

“Everything is fine Hendrik. It was just a nightmare, my apologies for startling you,” Killa assures, flashing a small smile to alleviate some of the worry the veteran guard was feeling.

He surveyed his surroundings and noted the first rays of morning light filtering through the canopy of the trees above indicating another day was beginning and there would be no point in trying to get more rest. There was a small cluster of soldiers huddled around the smoldering embers of what remained of the previous night’s campfire for warmth. Killa took in the tired faces of those who were on third watch with a twinge of guilt filling him, knowing that the soldiers traveling with him were fatigued from the many days of travel through the Dark Forest. But they didn’t have a choice; this journey was necessary for the fate of the kingdom.

As Killa had already awoken, camp was broken soon afterwards. Smoke rose lazily into the air from the ashes of the campfire as those who had been sleeping were roused to line up loosely in front of Hendrik. As the head of the guard he was responsible for laying out the plans for the day, and the rest of the soldiers were attentive despite the early hour.

“We are over a half day's trek from Mire Town and the goal is for us to arrive before sunset and meet with our local contacts there,” Hendrik instructed as he examined the World Map, circling and making a couple of marks on it where there were areas of interest.

A few whoops were given from the guards, and a sense of relief seemed to resonate through everyone knowing that this will be the last day they will need to camp out in the Dark Forest. Soon, the group began their trek, with few words spoken amongst them for hours in order to conserve stamina. However, spirits were high whenever small breaks would be given for everyone throughout the morning.

In the early afternoon they stopped at a stream that was marked previously on the map for a bit of a longer rest and to prepare lunch. Killa unloaded his pack and plopped down on a nearby log to gather his breath and thoughts. He had been preocupied and anxious throughout the morning recalling his nightmare. It had been some time since he’d had correspondence with his dear Belinda, and he feared greatly for her safety in these dark times. While he was preoccupied with his musings, a shadow was cast over him and he looked up, a smile immediately gracing his face as he greeted the caster. “Hello Gwenyth,” he said as he took the lunch offered by her, and he tried to not let dissapointment show on his face as he saw that it was porridge again.

“Milord, as I’ve said many a time, you may call me Gwen as all I trust do,” Gwenyth said in exasperation, but returned his smile with one of her own nonetheless and took a seat next to him on the log.

“Only about as many times as I’ve told you that you can call me Killa; we have known each other for how many years now?” Killa chuckled, his unease over his fitful dreaming abating through the playfully familiar conversation between the two lightbearers.

“That would be improper Milord, for you are my liege and I am just your guard,” she replied easily, taking a measured sip of the porridge and her nose scrunched up cutely. Killa could relate as he did his best to school his own features through eating his share. Neither of them would ever voice complaints when they knew everything had been done by those preparing the meal to make the sustaining porridge edible with what little they had available, but the flavor left a lot to be desired.

“If my memory serves me well, which it usually does, you were singing a different tune when you were younger. I remember a certain someone oftentimes saying how they were going to marry and take care of me forever,” Killa joked as a pretty blush creeped up from Gwen’s neck.

“Th-that was ages ago,” Gwen spluttered, nearly dropping her porridge, “and before I knew we were cousins!” Killa eyed her with an eyebrow raised while she pouted back at him for a moment before both burst into loud laughter and drew a few stares from the surrounding group. However, seeing Killa laughing and in good spirits was infectious to his guard, a few soldiers started chuckling as well at the innocent, joyous scene between the two before returning to their own meals.

As the two continued to banter, from his own spot underneath a sycamore tree Hendrik monitored the scene closely with his one good eye, a tired smile coming to his lips. *It has been many moons since I have heard my Lord laugh so freely, the last time was before the invasions started…*

Lunch was finished quickly after, and the group set off once more to continue their journey. There was more short conversations between members of the guard as excitement rose at the approaching end to their current trek, though Killa himself did not participate. He was as relieved as everyone else when the gates of Mire Town became visable in the distance and their trip came to an end right as the sun began disappearing beyond the horizon. After showing the guards protecting the gate their entry permits, the group were shown the way to The Rickety Cart, the local watering hole where many gathered.

Once inside, the soldiers all dispersed under orders to blend in and not draw too much attention to themselves. Killa and Hendrik remained together, as they would be the onces meeting the contacts here. They quickly spotted the two they had been looking for, Fawkes and Raine, whom once seeing that they had the Prince’s attention nodded slightly to avoid causing a scene and bring any untoward attention towards the travelers. They moved towards a set of stairs, subtly beckoning the two men to follow. Hendrik and the prince looked to each other before Killa took the lead, following the two companions to an upstairs room and allowing the rest of their entourage to unwind at the bar below.

After ensuring the privacy of the room, the two undercover guards  kneeled before their Lord, paying their respects. Killa quickly allowed them to rise and be at ease so they may start the meeting for information dissemination, which he desperately needed.

“How goes the defense at Sanctum?” Hendrik started as he slowly unequipped his heavy tower shields, feeling safe with Raine and Fawkes in a way that had Killa relaxing as well. He knew that if Hendrik was at ease around them, they were surely to be trusted.

“Not well, I am sorry to report. The Hypogean invasion was too sudden and their forces were too strong. There was not enough preparations in place to halt such aggressive advances; we anticipate it will fall within days,” Fawkes reported, his tone regretful but matter-of-fact. His incorporeal left hand flickered and casted an eerie blue light in the room.

“Orthros be damned,” Henrik cursed, expecting the news as the surprise attack of the Hypogean kingdom had been very unexpected, but hoping that the news would not be so bleak.

“Has there been any news of my older brother?” Killa asked, slight trepidation building as flashes of his disturbing nightmare of Belinda crossing his mind. “How has he fared?”

“Lord Lucius was last spotted in Mauler’s Enclave, celebrating a successful peace negotiation with the Mauler Chieftain, Blood Claw Brutus,” Raine recounted with a flirtatious smile at Killa.

Killa gave a relieved sigh at her words, worry and tension visibly leaving his shoulders. *Brother is alive and leading the charge for truce and unity against the Horde. With Lucius in command as a beacon of righteousness, there is hope yet we can repel this invasion before it is too late, all I need to do is do my part as well.*

“... nda?” Raine asked, giving Killa a wink and leaning towards the distracted prince.

Killa blinked in confusion for a moment before a blush rushed across his face when he realized he missed the beginning part of the question. “Sorry?” He hadn’t yet recognized the flirtatious actions of the pink-haired woman yet.

Raine laughed a bit at the clueless nature of the sweet prince. “I asked how things fared back in Ranhorn and your long honeymoon with Princess Belinda.”

Killa glanced at Hendrik and noticed him deep in conversation of strategies and scenarios with Fawkes. There was no save there; he was on his own for this one. Talking with older, coquettish women always put him on edge. *Why can’t all women be like my sweet wife Belinda and cousin Gwenyth? Prim and proper, perfectly ladylike and appropriate.*

He could feel as his face grew more red, but was able to formulate a response. “We were able to repel the initial invasion as you may have heard. Father tasked brother with peace talks with the Mauler’s  Chieftain and tasked me to meet with the Elders of the Wilders in the forest to find further aid in decimating the Hypogean forces.”

Rained listened attentively, though smirked as she noticed he’d neglected to fully answered her question. “And regarding Princess Belinda? Was the wedding night everything you hoped for?” She pushed teasingly, leaning in and batting her lashes at the flustered prince.

“That’s enough teasing the Prince for one night Raine,” Fawkes thankfully interjected before Killa had to respond. He had no idea of what to say to such a personal question.

*When I become King, I am promoting that man.* Killa thought to himself, grateful that he’d been saved from answering.

Raine shrugged, seemingly unbothered to be interrupted. “Fair enough,” she said, departing from the room along with her partner, but not before blowing a kiss at the Prince with another laugh.

Killa’s blush grew deeper. *I am also going to make a law that requires all women to wear dresses that reach their ankles, and take mandatory etiquette training on how a lady should act. The kingdom clearly sorely needs it.*