Will of the Battlefield

The sound of shoes hitting the corridor reverberated as four individuals walked out. Antonio was at the lead, followed by his brother-in-law and two youngsters.

There was a smile on his face, a proud one.

There was a quietness, no one uttered a word as they walked, all smiling in coordination.

Soon after, another individual came from the opposite direction, the man with a flattering long coat, Reginald Seraph.

"Look at those bright faces, even a blind man would see the radiance on your face." He commended them as a greeting. "Congratulations, dear winners."

"Sir Seraph, where is Hawk? How is he?" Max asked in a hurry.

Reginald looked at him with a smile. "He is under treatment and will be as good as before within a week or two."

Thane was also looking at Reginald, the latter glanced at him warmly and asked. "You are to inform me immediately if any news of your grandfather comes, understand, big guy?"

Thane nodded, his swollen blackened face moving slightly. "I will, old man."

Reginald chuckled and turned back to Max. "Now, care to tell me when you are throwing a party? You just won the biggest underground fighting organisation.

Should I call you my rival now?" Reginald winked at Max.

"I dare not desire that," Max said as he scratched his head.

"Mr. Seraph, thank you for your kind words," Antonio Goldcaster said.

Reginald tapped his arm and nodded. "Head towards the emergency room, you’ll find Hawk there." He said and moved towards upstairs.

The group quickened their pace towards the emergency room and Reginald gradually sauntered towards the VVIP chamber until he reached it.

He sighed and stretched his body before pushing the door open.

The moment he entered, his eyes landed on the maskless king. Ildiem was still there.

"The king revealed himself!" he pondered before breaking a knee before the king.

"Greetings, your majesty. I deepheartedly apologize for making you wait."

"Rise, Reginald. I quite enjoyed my disclosure, and met a contrasting pair," the king replied.

"Contrasting pair?" Reginald couldn’t understand before the king spoke again.

"The men who care nought about wealth and the men who only care about wealth," the king uttered.

It was then that he finally understood. The king was referring to the Ironforge clan and the Goldcaster family, Thane and Max in particular.

"Your majesty has a keen eye, the kids are oddly interesting," Reginald replied as he rose.

He gave Ildiem a look and later stood up, acting naturally as he bowed before the king. "Your majesty, please allow me to excuse myself. There is some work to do as the match has ended."

"It was a nice fight, you may leave," the king excused.

Just when Ildiem Zenonar left, Reginald ordered every servant to vacate the room as well.

Now, only the king, five masked men, and Reginald remained.

Reginald took a seat and slowly, the masks were lifted.

The first one to lift was the silver mask. Beneath the mask was a scarred face with beautiful shoulder-length red hair.

It was disfigured by someone. The scars were not caused by any battle, even a fool would believe that it was a face that once faced torture.

That was not all, there were seven lines on his face that indicated he was one of the Titled Generals.

His left arm was gone, replaced by a masterfully crafted limb of silver metal and glowing runes.

His name was Jay Snow, Third Heavenly Hero of Bentram Kingdom.

After him came the blue-masked female. Jasmine Snow, Jay’s younger sister and Fourth Heavenly Hero.

Long red hair flowed over her shoulders like a waterfall of ruby silk, framing delicate features and clear, intelligent eyes. Seven black lines adorned her face with an almost artistic elegance.

Where her brother looked weathered by suffering, Jasmine looked untouched by it.

Not a single wound or wrinkle on her face, carrying herself with the grace of a queen.

The black-masked man was the third to take his mask off.

He revealed a round, heavy face and a thick neck that strained against his robes. Four black lines crossed his cheeks.

Though overweight, his small eyes were constantly moving, calculating and suspicious.

He looked less like a warrior and more like a man who had survived by outthinking everyone around him.

He was the interior minister named Rufrey Voss.

Then came the disclosure of the green-masked man.

The Exterior Minister appeared exactly as one would expect, a lean, composed man with sharp features and calm eyes.

Four black lines marked his face neatly. Every movement was controlled and deliberate, his expression revealing little.

He carried the quiet confidence of a diplomat who had negotiated with kings and threatened them in the same conversation.

And last but not least, the gentleman in the orange mask.

An old man with a broad smile and bright eyes emerged from beneath it.

His white hair was tied neatly behind his head, and seven black lines decorated his weathered face.

He looked cheerful enough to be a kindly grandfather, yet there was something dangerous hidden beneath that warmth.

This was the Grand Strategist, the Head of Military Affairs, a man whose plans had decided the fate of nations long before armies ever marched. Sohrab Subzoi, leader and first heavenly hero of Bentram Kingdom.

As the last mask fell away, five of the kingdom’s most influential figures stood revealed before Reginald Seraph. Each carried a different face, but all carried power. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Reginald respectfully greeted each. He was senior to some of them, but their ranks were widely apart.

"Commander Reginald, how have you been?" asked Rufrey Voss.

"Getting old, interior minister. How is your diet going?" Reginald said with a chuckle.

"Haha, I’ve gained a few pounds. Pretty positive results, I’d say," he replied.

Sohrab clicked his tongue. "Have some shame, fatty."

Rufrey burst into laughter.

"Say, Reginald. You haven’t invited us to watch a duel, have you?" the king questioned.

"Absolutely not, your majesty. I have some intel that the Grand Strategist tasked me to collect," Reginald replied.

"I’m listening," the king replied with his heavy voice.

Reginald took a breath before he carefully said, "The Drevlorn Dynasty has been caught doing some shady things in our territories."

The mood of the chamber instantly fell when those words came out.