“Charge forward!” Kai screamed as he stretched his arm outwards. An army of a million men rushed past him as he sat on his horse. It was the third battle that month alone and they would probably see at least one more, Kai thought to himself.“My Lord, you don’t have to be on the battlefield. Myself and my men are enough to deal with these small fry.” Zalek Brackenbury, Kai’s colonel, urged his General.“If this is the third battle in less than two weeks, I’m needed on the battlefield. How are the healers doing? What is the casualty?” Kai asked, ignoring his subordinates' request.“About a hundred, not nearly as bad as the enemy camp. All the bodies we can see belong to them.” Zalek gleamed. “A hundred of my men fell at the hands of barbarians and you tell me to lay back while more die?” Kai asked Zalek in a cool tone. The fact that he was calm sent shivers down his spine. Immediately, Zalek fell to his knees, “I’m sorry, General. I don’t know what came over me. The life of even one so
Kymani Everard was one of Kai’s high ranking officers. She belonged to the Everard house, a house that had supported the Rylan’s for centuries with their healing powers and their magic that allowed them to foresee what was to come. Kymani was the current head of her family and unlike the previous heads, she much preferred to take a backseat and she spent all her free time running what the other officers called a charity clinic.One of the many skills Kymani possessed was hypnosis and on this day, she was tending to the many injured men. She cursed under her breath before yelling, “would you please keep still?! I don’t have time for this.” The man winced again and Kyman groaned, “How do you take so many lives and yet you’re scared of a little pain?”“Men are such babies.” Was the last thing she muttered before hearing a horse neigh in distress, “Bringing your horse all the way will not make me heal all these people faster, Zalek.” She said before lifting up her head.“Kymani!” His voic
“What did you say?” Kymani asked Astrophel. She crouched down on her knees as her arms grew tired from holding him up. “You’re able to delete memories. Wipe the General’s memories before he wakes up.” Astrophel repeated.“Why the hell would I do that? That can be classified as treason!” Kymani yelled at Kai’s godfather.“It isn’t treason if he can’t remember any of it.” Astrophel paused, “think about it. You’re in danger too for knocking him unconscious.”“I did not nothing wrong. He was going to kill us all and you asked me to.” Kymani defended.“You’re right, I did. Now finish your good work and wipe his memory. Only heaven knows what will become of us should he wake up and remember the horror that awaits.”“Do this for Nexarath, Kymani Everard. You have a duty to your people. Should the General become conscious with his memory intact, we will be back where we started and with even more people dead.” Kymani hesitated. Astrophel had a point.“Do you think he will be happy with you? Y
Kai had a nightmare that night, same as all the nights before and for as long as he could remember. He was screaming on top of his voice, “put your lives on the line!”, “show no mercy!”, “bring me their heads!”, “stake his head for his subordinates to see.” And other cruel and gruesome commands he could hardly imagine himself voicing out.“What sort of life did I lead before now?” He asked himself as he startled back to reality, shocking his wife, Sarah, as well.“The nightmares again?” She asked as she sat up, rubbing her eyes.“Yes. I’m sorry.” Kai apologized, sitting up as well. “It’s okay. Should I get you some water? Advil?” She asked as she rubbed his shoulders. “No, thanks. I’ll just get ready for work.” He replied as he pulled himself out of bed, heading for the bathroom.In the bathroom, he splashed ice cold water on his face and he stared at his reflection in the mirror. He had sunken eyes from his sleep constantly being cut short by ridiculous, otherworldly nightmares. He h
“What? Did I tell any lies?” Stephanie turned to Kai, “what use are you to us? You don’t work, you don’t contribute to the bills, you get free food. The least you could do is drive me around. Right, dad?” She turned to Orion.Orion ignored the ruckus, eating silently. “Calm down, my love. Remember what the doctor said about your blood pressure.” Her father said.“Sarah, baby. Your mother said she would pay. What is the issue?”“Leave that dumb child. Rather than marry a man that would take her on trips away from the capital, she brings home a man with no recollection of who he is. For all we know he could be a spy!” Stephanie touched the sensitive area. She and her husband were always suspicious of Kai and did not buy his story that he lost his memories.“I’ll be glad to drive you, Stephanie. Let me grab my jacket quickly.” Kai said, breaking the awkward silence, as he got up and headed to his room. “You know what, never mind! Gerald will take me.” Stephanie said as Kai emerged out of
“What?” Kai turned to look at Sarah who was still sobbing uncontrollably. “I’m so sorry, Kai. My granddad found the test results on our bed. I wanted to surprise you at dinner later tonight.” Sarah apologized.“Is that why you’re all ganging up on her? A married woman getting pregnant? Is that a crime?!” Kai demanded, getting up on his feet and aiding Sarah as well.“I will not take questions from you despicable being!” Orion started.“I gave you a roof over your head, despite being a nobody with no name. I endured the jabs from my business partners and associates, taunting me for giving up my only grandchild and future heir to a man with no past.”“And how do you two ingrates repay me? You poison my line with pauper blood!” Orion turned to Sarah, “Sarah Pierce, you will sign these divorce papers this instant and I will consider letting you raise your bastard child in my home. Else, I want you two out of my sight.”“Dad!” Stephanie yelled, he was being too harsh in her opinion.“Shut
“What? Absolutely not!” Sarah said as she threw the keys hard on the ground.“That is my offer, Sarah Pierce. I only care about my future grandchild and I still very much want you to divorce Kai.”“That’s fine with me.” Kai pitched in, finally getting up from where he was sitting. Tears welled up in Sarah’s eyes, “what?” She asked, her voice barely a whisper.“Glad to know that one of us has reasoning here. Do you need me to drive you or do you have a way to get there?” Stephanie asked Sarah and Kai responded, “I’ll take her.”“I won’t step foot in the apartment. I promise.” He added.“Your words mean shit but I will take it.” She then turned to Sarah, “I will pick you up tomorrow morning by ten for a doctor’s appointment.” Was the last thing she said before turning to enter her car and zooming off.Sarah stood, watching the car retreat until Kai’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts, “I spent nearly all the money I earned these past few months to book a restaurant for our anniversa
Kai had just dropped Sarah off at her apartment that morning, “you know you can come in right?” Sarah asked, “It’s not like there are spies watching.” She added, urging him to step into the apartment.Ever since she started living alone, Kai had adamantly refused to remotely step foot in the house. “I gave my word.” He always said and Sarah chuckled, “to who? My mom? Oh, come on, Kai. What is the matter with you?” She asked, placing a hand on his cheek.“Nothing.” He brushed her off, breaking her heart a little bit. Sarah noticed that he had been off for a while now. “Is it work?” She asked.“No.” Kai said, turning around to leave, “get some rest, Sarah.”“Is it the migraines?” Ignored. “The nightmares?” Ignored.As she watched her husband walk further away from her, she yelled, “Is it me?!”That would usually get him to turn around and reassure her but this time, he didn’t. He just yelled in response, “No!” Before taking a turn out of her line of vision.Sarah stifled a cry. He usual
“You have that kind of money?” Sarah asked and Kai full on laughed this time around, “yes.” Was all he said as he got up. Kai adjusted his pants before reaching a hand out to Sarah.“We’ve had a long day, let’s go to bed.”“A long, unpredictable and eventful day.” She added as she took his hand. Everything about them was different now but their relationship remained the way Sarah loved, unbreakable and lighthearted. That was just how strong their bond was.The next day, Kai woke up from his night’s sleep uninterrupted by aggressive nightmares. He was getting used to it. He sat up and headed to the bathroom for his morning ritual, to splash some cold water on his face and brush his teeth. Sarah was not beside him when he woke up which only meant that she was making breakfast. As he brushed his teeth, Kai could not help but smile. Even though they had both come to the conclusion that he was the better cook, Sarah often went out of her way to wake up earlier and get a head start on maki
After a couple of minutes remaining in an embrace, Sarah broke the hug. She held Kai’s face in between her hands and smiled, “we’re going to be okay.” She assured him again for the umpteenth time. If there was something Sarah was good at, it was comforting you until all your worries seemed small and insignificant. Kai had almost forgotten why he was upset.“I do have a question, though. Am I free to speak?” She asked him and he said in response, “always, baby. I’m eager to know where your head is at. What’s on your mind?”“Are we moving? I mean, I can understand you wanting to go back home but all the talk of war and fighting…” Kai chuckled, she really was too good to be true.“I don’t miss it Sarah, I’ll be honest with you.” He admitted for the first time out loud, “I don’t…I no longer have a family there.”Her heart sank. She wanted to ask more but she felt as though it wasn’t the right time. She appreciated him enough already for sharing something that clearly was still a fresh wou
Kai watched as Sarah’s face went from calm to confused. Whenever she had no clue as to what was going on, she furrowed her eyebrows tightly and frowned slightly. It was something he had always found cute, he often laughed at her for wearing her emotions so clearly on her face. Recently however, it seemed to be the only look she wore and it made Kai feel guilty. He was now determined to divulge as much information as what was safe for her.Nexarath was not public knowledge to those in the capital and that was decided centuries ago before either of them were born. The rationale was simple; the then ruler of Voltaria did not want the whole Country to be wiped out by war so he came up with a simple solution, the country was divided into two main cities. The inner city was later known as the capital and Nexarath which was the city that surrounded the capital, protecting the border and the capital at the same time. Although war never really halted at any point, the emergence and discovery
The couple walked out of the shopping complex that now belonged to Kai and was managed by Sarah. One could say that it was a shopping trip gone wrong. The two of them walked past the baby store they were supposed to patronize. The silence was ice cold.In the garage, as usual, Kai attempted to get the passenger door for Sarah and she said, “I got it.” Before opening the door herself. It was hardly her attention to be cold to him but her emotions were all over the place. The man she loved, her husband and the father to her child was a stranger to her. “Okay.” Kai muttered not loud enough for anyone to hear before walking around the truck to the driver’s side. Kai had told her that Maverick lended him one of his trucks. Was that also a lie?You could cut through the silence in the truck, so much so that the sound of the engine starting sounded like thunder in Sarah’s ear. She kept her back straight though, and looked outside the window. She simply could not behold Kai’s face.As he pul
John looked at the man that towered over everyone as well as the woman who sat behind Ronald’s desk. Nevermind that, he was only there on orders.Ronald sighed before taking the files from John, the weight pulling him down instantly so much so that a giggle escaped from Sarah. Leslie and Rachel turned to look at her and she cleared her throat, straightening her back.“Stand up.” Kai ordered. Ronald tried to but the weight of the files were too much for him, “stand up.” Kai said again. This time, Ronald was in a nervous sweat. Not only was he so weak that he could not carry a couple of files, he was struggling on his knees in the presence of a man he bullied for so long, John.“You may leave, John.” Kai said to the clearly confused man and he nodded before taking his leave. Kai squatted down in front of Ronald who was as red as a tomato. Kai thought that he had taunted him enough to send a message. He picked up the files that he was struggling with with one hand and placed them on the
“What?!” Rachel and Leslie were in disbelief. They both reached out for Ronald’s phone and they too saw the alert. The phone fell from Leslie’s hand and she laughed nervously.“Sarah, why didn’t you tell us your darling husband here had such a big bank?” She kissed to an equally confused Sarah.Rachel chipped in, closing in the distance between them, “yeah! Anyway let us pay no mind to this situation. It got out of hand and things got way too serious! Right, Leslie?”“Totally. What do you say, Sarah? Friends again?”She ignored them for there was something else on her mind.Sarah looked at her husband who was now leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. If she did not know him, she would say that he looked nothing like her husband. There was an aura about him that was simply intimidating. No, not simply, terrifyingly intimidating.Kai’s voice echoed through the now silent office, “Ronald was it? How am I going to get my documents of ownership with you on your knees? Stan
One of the men chuckled, “I’m sorry sir, but who are you?”“We can’t just call our manager, the complex isn’t up for sale.” The other said.“Why are you two being respectful to him? Forget how tough he looks, he’s a pauper! He cannot even afford to be standing here.” Leslie said.“That’s right. Throw them both out!” Rachel chipped in.“I would like to speak to your manager. Or am I not allowed to make inquires? How much would the complex go for? Triple it, I’ll pay in full.” Kai made a bold statement and Leslie and Rachel bursted out laughing.“You didn’t tell us that your husband did stand up comedy, Sarah! You know what, call the manager. Tell him indeed someone wants to buy the complex. I would love to watch you two make an absolute fool of yourselves.”“Oh, yes! I have time today.” Leslie gleamed in agreement.“Al…right, ma’am.” One of the men said and hurried away. Sarah looked up at Kai with worry in her eyes. Kai never talked big. It was all unnecessary drama for her and her fee
Kai had no idea who the high pitched voice belonged to but one look at Sarah, he understood. She rolled her eyes before turning around, plastering a fake smile on her face.“Hello, Rachel.” Sarah greeted, “Leslie.” She acknowledged the other one.“It is you! Crazy, Leslie, how long has it been?” The one Sarah called Rachel asked, “at least three years. We last saw you at our graduation. Oh… is that the husband?" She paused, stifling a laugh, "the one that caused your family to disown you?” She asked rather loudly.“The rumors were true. I mean, he is a bit cute though but really, Sarah Pierce? You gave up on your chance to be a part of the upper class for something as foolish as love?” Rachel asked.“To think John Ranch would have married her!” Leslie said, “he’s married to Peony now, they are living the dream life truly.” She swooned and Sarah sighed, “It was lovely meeting you two.” She lied, “but we must leave now.” She said, pulling Kai’s arm. He knew not to interfere in any squa
The couple moved uptown with Maverick’s help, “do you think we should tell your family?” Kai asked and he tossed the last bag in the trunk of the moving van and Sarah sighed, “no.” She said in a flat tone.“They abandoned us, abandoned me. My father, my grandfather, no one has come to see me ever since they threw us out. I don’t care what sentiments they have but they have been nothing but cruel to me. I don’t want me, you or my daughter anywhere near them.” She gave him a definite answer and Kai immediately understood.It was the day after he and Maverick broke their poorly coordinated story to her and thankfully, it seemed to Kai like she bought it.“Thank you again, Maverick. Truly.” She held Maverick’s hand which took him by surprise. She was way more handsy than the women in Nexarath. He looked at Kai who gave him a reassuring nod.“You’re welcome…it’s my pleasure.” He stuttered, “no really, you have no idea how much your presence has saved me… You have no idea.” She was tearing